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Camp-Fire Stories 



OF THE 



Mississippi Valley 
Campaign 



BY 



Marie Louise Benton Bankston 

(Historian Stonewall Jackson Chapter 1 135 
United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1912-13.) 



"Not for self hut for the Cause, " 



LOUISIANA SERIES 



THE L. GRAHAM CO. 

Publishers 

NEW ORLEANS 

1914 



C- ■-. ■ 



Copyrighted by 

MAEIE LOUISE BENTON BANKSTON, 

New Orleans, 1914. 



m \2 !8i4 



©CI,A36156i 



DEDICATION. 



TO THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS 

or THE SOUTH^ 

THIS WORK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED; 

WITH THE HOPE, THAT IT MAY ASSIST TO A DEEPER 

STUDY AND HIGHER APPRECIATION, OF THE 

SACRIFICES, DEVOTION AND VALOR 

OF THEIR FATHERS ; 

KINDLING A ZEAL IN THEIR HEARTS 

TO BECOME WORTHY OF THEIR HERITAGE OF 

PATRIOTISM. 



CONTENTS. 



Dedication. 

Foreword 9 

I. Causes of the War 12 

II. Southern Confederacy 23 

III. The Unequal Struggle 26 

IV. Louisiana 30 

V. Fort Sumter — Wiashington Artillery. 38 

VI. General Leonidas Polk 45 

VII. Who Made the Plans That Saved the 

Union? 5o 

VIII. Farragut and His Fleet 54 

IX. New Orleans Life Under Federal 

Regime 69 

X. Beauty and Booty 78 

XI. New Orleans Newspaper Volunteers. 100 

XII. Orleans Guards 106 

XIII. Siege of Port Hudson 113 

XIV. Battle of Baton Rouge 119 

XV. Chickasaw Bayou 123 

XVI. Battle of Champion Hill 127 

XVII. Grant's Canal 133 

XVIII. Carroll Parish 139 

XIX. The Battle of Mansfield 149 

XX. Vicksburg 159 

XXI. Third Louisiana 164 



FOREWORD. 



THE ebb-tide of time has taken us far adrift from 
the issues that culminated in the war between 
the States. All organized Southern Societies 
now realize that the only full and final tribute, we can 
pay to the Confederate Soldier, is to crown his deeds, 
with a true version of his motive, and transmit un- 
tarnished the story of his suflfering and loyalty. 

Animated by this desire, I launch my little 
volume — sheafs of grain, gathered from many fields 
of valor, devoted first to deeds of Louisiana's sons on 
Louisiana soil. Should it meet with favor, other works 
will follow, as Louisiana gave freely of the flower of 
her manhood to every battle of the Confederacy. The 
history of the Army of Northern Virginia cannot be 
written without telling the glory of the Louisiana Sol- 
dier. 

I ot^'er this contribution, not in memory of a Lost 
Cause, but as a witness to a Living Principle. 

The facts presented in these pages have been ob- 
tained largely from participants in the action. It has 
been a delightful task to draw from the Veterans of 
the great struggle, a vivid picture of the scenes of their 



10 FOREWORD. 

heroism. While we yet have a "cloud of living wit- 
nesses" around us, let us work, that our children may, 
too, bear the torch. 

In the printed sources of information I have con- 
sulted to verify the facts, I have sought both Northern 
and Southern authorities with equal impartiality. 

In the text-books put into the hands of our children, 
the term ''Rebel" is too often used in the sense of 
traitor. 

The South did oppose the attempt of the United 
States Government to invade Southern soil with armed 
force for the purpose of coercion. Mr. John Fiske, 
that admirable Northern historian, says, in treating this 
point : 

"For my own part, I have sympathized with so 
-many of the rebellions in history, from the revolt of 
iht Ionian cities against Darius Hystaspes down to the 
uprising in Cuba, that I am quite unable to conceive 
of 'rebel' as a term of reproach. In England, to this 
day, Cromwell's admirers do not hesitate to speak 
with pride of the Great Rebellion. While my own 
sympathies are thoroughly Northern, as befits a Con- 
necticut Yankee, I could still take off my hat to the 
statute of Robert E. Lee when I passed it in New Or- 



FOREWORD. 11 

leans. His was devotion to the self-government, which 
seemed in mortal peril." 

If we can but interest the youth of our country in 
these great ideals of Southern manhood, aglow with 
love of independence, the author will have cause to 
rejoice in the fruits of her labor. 

M. Louise Benton Bankston. 



12 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 



CHAPTER I. 

CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE WAR BETWEEN 
THE STATES. 

IT is a far cry, back to the first issue, between North 
and South. Perhaps it was in 1785, when Spain 
positively refused to yield the free navigation of 
the Mississippi River. Mr. Jay, Secretary of State 
then, recommended a waiver for thirty years to all 
claims to free navigation of the Mississippi. 

The seven Northern States voted solidly for this 
measure, and the five Southern, excepting one member, 
voted against it. 

Thus began the drawing of geographical lines, upon 
a question in which the South showed patriotic states- 
manship, and the North a narrow jealousy of any 
expansion beyond its own section. 

Mr. Jefferson, from Paris, wrote strongly to Mr. 
Madison in disapproval. The interests, of all the 
settlements along the waters of the Mississippi, were 
sacrificed to the jealousy of the party in power. 

In 1786 the Georgia Legislature declared by resolu- 
tion the right of a State to self-government, and re- 
sented the attempt of Congress to treat with the 
Creeks — as subversive of State's Rights. 



CAUSES OF THE WAR. 13 

A crisis arose in the State of Alabama in 1833 over 
her independent right to regulate the difficulties which 
had arisen between the Creek Indians on the Reserva- 
tion and the pre-emption rights of settlers. The Gov- 
ernor of Alabama sent a lengthy note of protest to 
Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, in the defense of State 
Sovereignty. 

^ The President appointed Francis Scott Key Com- 
missioner to visit Alabama and adjust all questions 
in dispute. Mr. Key was a man of elegant address, 
gifted with attainments in law and diplomacy. 

He had already attained fame and country-wide 
popularity at home, as the author of the greatest 
national air, "The Star-Spangled Banner." 

Mr. Key's efforts effected a settlement. A con- 
temporary author wrote : 

"This controversy was not settled upon principle, 
but smothered in compromise." 

We see once more the Federal Government yield- 
ing the point at issue to the hostile demonstration of 
the State. 

When Thomas Jefferson was President, the mari- 
time States boldly opposed the embargo laws, declar- 
ing their enforcement was an adequate cause for dis- 
solving the Union. 



14 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

As far back as 1832, when the Convention at 
Columbia, South Carolina, adopted the Nullification 
Act of John C. Calhoun, rebelling against the tariff 
adopted by the United States Government, the Con- 
vention announced that every measure of coercion on 
the part of the Federal Government be regarded as 
inconsistent with a further continuance in the Union. 

After the adoption of the Constitution, during the 
administration of John Adams, the commercial States 
of the North repudiated the right of secession and 
opposed the resolutions of the Kentucky and Virginia 
Legislatures, which had declared, in last resort, that 
the State was the sole umpire as to all Federal ques- 
tions; but as soon as the Federalists saw a danger of 
losing control of Government they threatened dis- 
union — ^upon every question which threatened to 
diminish their waning power. 

The suppression of the Whisky Insurrection in 
Washington's Administration gave rise to talk of civil 
war and overthrow of the Administration. Jefferson 
feared the excise law would produce disunion. Wolcott 
expressed a hope that the insurgent district be chastised 
or rejected from the Union. 

''Hamilton was chagrined to find that the march of 
the militia to enforce the excise laws was greeted with 



CAUSES OF THE WAR. 16> 

laughter and derision. Edmund Randolph expressed a 
fear that the insurgents would call England to their aid, 
and thus bring about a disruption of the Union. 

''Jefferson, in his Memoirs, said that John Quincy 
Adams called upon him during the controversy over 
the embargo laws, and declared he had information of 
the most unmistakable character that certain citizens 
of the Eastern States, Massachusetts particularly, were 
in negotiation with the British Government, the object 
of which was an agreement that the New England 
States should take no further part in executing em- 
bargo laws against hostile British orders in council, and 
that they would withdraw from all aid and obedience 
to the Union." 

The next great issue between North and South was 
the acquisition of Louisiana. Here we see exhibited 
sectional jealousy against expansion of territory. The 
North openly declared that separation from the Union 
would be preferable to acquisition of Louisiana. 

There was a movement for a combine of the North- 
ern and Eastern States in 1804. 

Mr. Adams gives incidents of a visit to Rufus King. 
He says : i found there sitting Timothy Pickering, who 
shortly after withdrew.' Mr. King said : 'Mr. Pickering 
has been talking to me about a project they have for a 



16 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

separation of the States and the forming of a Northern 
Confederacy.' " 

Governor Plummer, of New Hampshire, was a pro- 
nounced Secessionist. In a letter to Mr. Adams he 
admitted he was a disunionist at that period, and in 
favor of forming a separate Government in New 
Hampshire. 

When Virginia and Kentucky passed their cele- 
brated resolutions in 1798 against the Alien and 
Sedition Laws, and declared as there was no umpire to 
settle between the State and Federal Government, that 
each State must decide upon its own redress, the com- 
mercial States all denied the doctrine. The agricultural 
States affirmed this power. 

Now observe that, when the acquisition of Louisiana 
was impending, these same States boldly declared they 
would dissolve the Union. 

From his seat in Congress, Josiah Quincy, a leader 
from Massachusetts, declared if the bill for the pur- 
chase of Louisiana became a law it was a virtual dis- 
solution of the Union; that it would free the States 
from their moral obligation. 

"The cry was, the Union has long since been 
dissolved ; it was time this part of the dis-united States 
takes care of itself." 



CAUSES OF THE WAR. 17 

Further, that "it would be the right of all to prepare 
for a separation, amicably, if they could, violently, if 
they must." 

The War of 1812 kindled anew the spirit of section- 
alism in the North, while the South rallied as a unit to 
the United States' defense. It was the Southern Volun- 
teer of Tennessee, Kentucky and Louisiana that won 
the victory for the United States on the plains of Chal- 
mette, while the States of New England, as soon as its 
commerce was threatened, clamored for peace. 

The Governors of Connecticut and Massachusetts, 
and the Governor of Vermont, ordered the return of 
the militia to those States which had gone into Canada 
to confront the British. 

From the examples we have now given, in historical 
sequence, our students of history can clearly draw the 
conclusion that the doctrine of Secession had its birth 
and was fostered in the New England States. 

It was only when it was put into practical applica- 
tion, by the Southern States, that it became treason in 
their sight. 

Sustaining this view, we find Aaron Burr, a promi- 
nent statesman of New York, relying upon the consent 
of the North and the forbearance of the South, engaged 
in organizing an armed expedition to make New Or- 
leans the capital of a great Southwestern Republic. 



18 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

In the face of all these facts, showing the reserved 
right of self-government held by all the States North 
or South, agitators and promoters of sectional jealousy 
and hatred would endeavor to make Negro Slavery 
the issue and cause of the war between the States; 
whereas, if it were a crime to have brought the captive 
from Africa, that crime did not rest with the Southern 
planter. 

Under Oglethorpe, of Georgia, slavery had been 
prohibited in all that region extending from- the 
Savannah to the Mississippi; but the greed of traders 
and ship-owners from New England abolished this pro- 
hibition, and engrafted the traffic on the Constitution 
itself. 

A BLESSING TO THE SLAVE. 

Now, was it an unmixed evil ? Many pious people, 
and deeply religious theologians, have contended ever 
that, in the Providence of God, slavery was an instru- 
ment of salvation. To bring these benighted souls 
from the wilds of Africa, and, by the evolution of 
civilization, to bestow upon them Christian citizenship. 
Their emotional nature renders them very amenable to 
religious influences. 

In the patriarchial system of the South, was dis- 
played the most picturesque and beautiful relation of 
Master and Servant. 



CAUSES OF THE WAR. 19 

Horatio Seymour has most appropriately said : 
"That if slavery in the South was an evil, it bred 
the best race of men and women the world ever saw." 
Hear the testimony of John Quincy Adams: 
"For this much is certain, if institutions are to be 
judged by their results, in the composition of the coun- 
cils of the Union, the slave-holders are much more 
ably represented than the simple freeman." 

The philosophic Edmund Burke, in contrasting sec- 
tions, concluded that the Southern States had evolved 
the highest order of Anglo-Saxon manhood. 

It becomes the duty of every Southern historian to 
impress upon the minds of youth the falsity of the 
assumption that preservation of the institution of 
slavery was the cause of Secession. The fact is, that 
the Southerners differed as widely upon this subject, 
as upon other matters of political economiy — many of 
the States had ideas for the gradual emancipation of 
the slaves. 

In 1832, Virginia was on the verge of emancipation. 
A very large proportion of the Confederate Army was 
not slave-holders. The patriots who came forth from 
the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and the 
Carolinas had no slaves, whereas General Grant was 
a small slave-holder. 



20 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

Many Southern leaders were non-slave-holders — ^all 
along the line, from Patrick Henry, Andrew Jackson, 
John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay to Stonewall Jackson, 
but they were patriots, inflamed with love of freedom, 
and a willingness to die for the holy principle of self- 
government. 

GENERAL FREMONT'S FALSE STEP— MR. 
LINCOLN'S REPRIMAND. 

As a demonstration that slavery was not acknowl- 
edged to be the cause of the war between the States 
but, was resorted to afterwards, as a measure of sub- 
jugation, also a means of destroying the agricultural 
and financial power of the South, we have but to con- 
sider the action of General Fremont in Missouri, July 
9, 186L He had been appointed by Mr. Lincoln to 
command the Department of the West, which com- 
prised the States of Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Ken- 
tucky. John C. Fremont had gained a prestige in 
many quarters, on account of his marriage to Jessie 
Benton, the daughter of Thomas H. Benton, of Mis- 
souri, whose long and devoted services to his State are 
set forth in the celebrated book, 'Thirty Years in the 
Senate." 

General Fremont's work in the explorations of the. 



CAUSES OF THE WAR. 21 

Rocky Mountains, and the conquest of California, had 
so added to his popularity that he was brought out as 
candidate of the Republican party for President. 

As a military chief, his career was a disappointment 
to the Federals. While in command, he gave proof 
of poor judgment. On the 30th of August, in St. 
Louis, he issued his "emancipation proclamation," 
which declared all slaves belonging to Confederates to 
be free, and threatened death to all persons bearing 
arms within a certain arbitrary boundary prescribed by 
his order. 

This was looked upon as a political error of the 
gravest character. The slavery question was held as 
entirely subordinate to the question of National Sov- 
ereignty. As at this time, in such slave States as Mis- 
souri and Kentucky, there were struggles between con- 
flicting motives, opinions and interests, it was con- 
sidered most imprudent to hint at the forcible emanci- 
pation of slaves. Such a step immediately alarmed 
that element of slave-holders which had hitherto held 
themselves neutral. 

Mr. Lincoln was first to perceive this, and lost no 
time to disavow the act, and to remind General Fre- 
mont that he had gone beyond his powers. 

The spirit of Patrick Henry is the spirit that ani- 



22 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

mated the South—a fear of aggressive Federal power, 
and a determination to resist to the last any en- 
croachment of State's Rights. When Lincoln declared, 
after his election, that the relation of a State to the 
Government was nothing more than that of a county 
to the State, the freemen of the South, regardless of 
property rights in slaves, marshalled from the moun- 
tains to the sea, to uphold the sovereignty of their 
State. Their purpose failed ; their principle lives. Great 
men, all. 

Deserving the distinction of these noble words of 
Benjamin Disraeli, in "Lothair." 

"He is a gentleman of the South. It is not unlikely 
he may have lost his estates now; but that makes no 
difference to me; I shall treat him and all Southern 
gentlemen as our fathers treated the emigrant nobility 
of France." 




JEFTERSON DAVIS, 
The First and Only President of the Confederacy, 



SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY. 23 

CHAPTER II. 
THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY. 



JEFFERSON DAVIS. 

OUR readers may plainly see from the fore- 
going chapter that the war between the 
States was the inevitable, the irrepressible 
conflict. No one realized this more than Jefferson 
Davis. 

In his ''Rise and Fall of the Confederacy," he gives 
a very interesting story of the excitement in 1850 over 
the compromise measures which were then pending. 

"He says: ''One day ! was walking in the capitol 
grounds in Washington. I met Henry Clay, of Ken- 
tucky, and Mr. Berrien, of Georgia, in earnest con- 
versation. It was the 7th of March— the day on which 
Mr. Webster had delivered his great speech. Mr. Clay, 
addressing me in the friendly way he had always done, 
since I was a school boy in Lexington, asked me 
what I thought of the speech. I liked it better than 
he did. He then suggested I should join the com- 
promise men, saying it was a measure that would 
probably give peace to the country for thirty years— 



24 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

the period which had elapsed since the adoption of the 
compromise of 1820. Then, turning to Mr. Berrien, 
Mr. Clay said, Tou and I will be under the ground 
before that time, but our young friend here will have 
trouble to meet.' I somewhat, impatiently, declared 
my unwillingness to transfer to posterity a trial they 
would relatively be less able to meet, than we were, 
and passed on my way." 

Even at that time the shadow of Mr. Davis' 
vicarious sufferings had fallen over him. When, ten 
years later, his State, Mississippi, had seceded from 
the Union, and he arose sadly in the United States 
Senate to bid farewell to his colleagues, he expressed 
his sorrow that the Union must be dissolved. He ex- 
pected that the Southerners would be allowed to go 
in peace and establish their own Government undis- 
turbed. 

Mrs. Davis, in speaking of this final adieu to the 
United States Senate, said of his sorrow: ''Had he 
been bending over his bleeding father, needlessly slain 
by his countrymen, he could not have been more 
pathetic or inconsolable." 

That night she heard his reiterated prayer: "May 
God have us in His holy keeping, and grant that, be- 
fore it is too late, peaceful councils may prevail." 



SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY, 25 

On Saturday, February 16, 1861, a remarkable 
meeting of the Representatives of the Confederate 
States took place in Montgomery, Alabama, to in- 
augurate a President. The unanimous choice of the 
people called for 

JEFFERSON DAVIS. 

Mr. William L. Yancey, of Alabama, possibly the 
greatest orator of his day, introduced Mr. Davis to the 
multitude, in these solemn words: 

"The hour — and the man have met." 



26 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

CHAPTER III. 
THE UNEQUAL STRUGGLE. 

THE present generation, both North and South, 
have a confused idea of the conditions, social 
and political, which prevailed at the time of 
the election of Mr. Lincoln. 

With the eye of cool observation, the student of 
history can see nothing but the tremendous inequalities 
of the contestants — ^the North, in control of the whole 
power and machinery of the Government of the 
United States, its navy, its standing army, its treasury, 
and its credit ; the South, led by a host of knights, with 
its fighting legion drawn from great agricultural fields, 
of a people untrained in hardships and unskilled in 
manufacturing. 

That election was purely geographical. Owing to 
the peculiar electoral system of our country, we see 
that Mr. Lincoln was elected by 180 electoral votes 
(all from above the Potomac or the Ohio), in the 
face of a popular majority against him of 950,000 
votes. He was the candidate of a party that had no 
adherents in the southern part of the nation, and which 
existed to antagonize and destroy the institutions of 
that section of the United States. 



THE UNEQUAL STRUGGLE. 27 

For the first time in our history, one section of the 
country aligned itself against the other. For the first 
time, had come to pass that geographical division of 
the country which was anticipated by the original 
States, and caused many of them to hesitate to sign 
the Constitution. 

A party founded on hostility to the South had 
elected a President by a purely sectional vote against 
the will of the people, as expressed in nearly a million 
ballots. 

This was taken as a challenge to the Southern 
States to submit to domination or withdraw from the 
Union. With the hot blood of their sires surging in 
their breasts, there could be no hesitation. 

ONE BY ONE EACH STATE OF THE SOUTH 
DECLARED FOR HOME RULE. 

Dear old Virginia waited long; she did not think 
the election of Lincoln was sufficient cause to leave the 
Union, which she had done so much to glorify. 

It was only when President Lincoln, on the l5th 
of April, 1861, called upon Virginia to furnish her 
quota of troops to coerce the seceding States, that she 
refused to take part in the political crime of warfare 
against Sovereign States. Other States followed the 
lead of Virginia, who, for honor's sake, hazarded all. 



28 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

There could be no discussion in those days at the 
South, of weighing their manhood against con- 
sequences. 

The South entered upon the war, armed with little 
else save courage and love of liberty. Men were taken 
from all the productive fields of life ; the food supplies 
were, from the first, meager, because the South had 
unwisely bought her produce from the North and 
West. She was deficient in navy, arms, ammunition, 
and clothing. After her ports were blockaded, there 
was no medicine, nor any means of obtaining aid from 
outside friendly sources. 

General Grant has been lauded as a great strategist ; 
so he was, if General N. B. Forrest's definition be 
accepted, who defined strategy as ''getting there first 
with the most men." 

The North was able to enlist an aggregate of 
2,748,304 men. The sum total the South could pro- 
duce, by "robbing the cradle and the grave," was 
600,000. 

This was the situation that Virginia met, but she 
cast lots with her sister States, and the swords of her 
great sons upheld her. She gave to the Confederacy 
Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Joseph E. John- 
ston, Turner Ashby, and a host of others. 



THE UNEQUAL STRUGGLE, 29 

The Confederacy was very deficient in supplies of 
medicine—more necessary than ammunition at times. 
In the supreme moment of their country's need, the 
women rose to meet every emergency, from the 
making of bandages, knitting of socks to weaving of 
cloth. They dug up the floors of their smoke houses 
and tobacco barns to extract the nitre from them ; the 
corncobs were gathered up from the barns, that the 
soda and potash obtained from them might be used 
in the making of gunpowder. Women grew poppies, 
and from the gum they made an opiate for the suffer- 
ers in the hospitals. They learned to harvest and stew 
dogwood, which was used as a substitute for quinine. 
The black boys of the plantation were kept busy in the 
woods gathering herbs and berries with which to make 
tonics and stimulants for the sick and injured soldiers. 

The carpets on their floors were cut up for blankets, 
and the draperies converted into underwear. When all 
else was exhausted, the women learned the art of 
weaving, and made the cloth from which the grey 
jackets and caps were contrived. 

The town and church bells were melted and 
moulded into bullets. 



30 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

CHAPTER IV. 
LOUISIANA. 

LOUISIANA has always occupied a picturesque 
and imposing position in the history of Amer- 
ica — from the days when La Salle and Bien- 
ville first saw the beauty of her lakes and streams; 
later, when she became the object of barter and sale, 
between Napoleon Bonaparte and Thomas Jeflferson, 
and finally, when Napoleon, to replenish his depleted 
war-chest, sacrificed this wonderland of the Western 
world for a few paltry millions. 

Thomas Jefferson, the greatest statesman of his 
age, foresaw the large possibilities of the future value 
of his purchase, but a part of his country, was willing 
for a disruption of the Union on account of it. 

In the war with Mexico, she covered herself with 
glory. She brought about the final defeat of the 
British in 1814 on the field of Chalmette. Is it not 
natural, then, that Louisiana, in the War between the 
States, should lay her treasure and her sons on the 
altar of Constitutional Liberty? 



LOUISIANA, 31 

FIRST STEPS TOWARD SECESSION. 

On, January 16, 1861, active steps were taken, for 
the first time, toward secession, and a strong force of 
citizen soldiery started for Baton Rouge. The records 
say "they were young men of hot blood and de- 
termined to do the State some service." The next 
day, at 11 p. m., Major Haskin, commanding the 
Arsenal, capitulated 50,000 stand of arms and other 
munition." 

The companies from New Orleans now held the 
Barracks. Three companies of Baton Rouge infantry 
resented this action, and disbanded, but the volunteer 
troops of Baton Rouge finally took charge of the Bar- 
racks. 

Captain Voorhies, during the expedition, com- 
manded the Washington Artillery; Captain Charles 
D. Dreux, the New Orleans Cadets; and the Orleans 
Guards were under Captain S. M. Todd and Lieu- 
tenant Giradey. The whole expedition was under 
command of Colonel Walton, of the Washington 
Artillery. 

Governor Thomas Overton Moore called the 
Legislature together in extra session, in December, 
i860. An election of delegates to a State Convention 
took place January 7, 1861. The convention met on 



32- CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

January 23rd, and elected ex-Governor Mouton as 
President. On January 26th an Ordinance of Seces- 
sion was framed and adopted. The ordinance was 
signed by 121 delegates, seven voting against secession. 
Delegates were then sent to Montgomery to form 
a Southern Confederacy. Louisiana, from henceforth, 
was aligned with her sister States. 

LOUISIANIAN FIRED FIRST GUN OF 
THE WAR. 

General P. G. T. Beauregard, of Louisiana, opened 
the war for Southern defense at Fort Sumter. The last 
to stack arms in 1865 was the consolidated Eighteenth 
Louisiana, of the Trans-Mississippi Department. 

General Beauregard, in command of Louisianians, 
won the first great battle of the war at Manassas, in 
which the Washington Artillery, of New Orleans, 
made its name forever immortal. 

Such were the losses of Louisiana troops, that con- 
solidation of remnants had to be practiced. For in- 
stance, the Thirteenth Louisiana Regiment of In- 
fantry, the very flower of the manhood of New Or- 
leans, which left the city in 1861 with 850 men, at the 
close of the war mustered but twenty-six — three 
officers and twenty-three men. 

Of the six full Generals in the Confederate Army, 



LOUISIANA. 33 

Louisiana furnished two— Beauregard and Bragg; also 
six Major-Generals and twenty-seven Brigadier-Gen- 
erals. There were one hundred engagements fought 
on Louisiana soil. 

DISTINGUISHED LOUISIANIANS. 

In the person of Judah P. Benjamin, Louisiana fur- 
nished the first Secretary of State to the Confederacy. 
He was subsequently Attorney-General, and then Sec- 
retary of War. 

Louisiana furnished three of the twelve Commis- 
sioners of the Confederacy — Hon. John Slidell, Com- 
missioner to Europe, especially to France; Hon. P. A. 
Rost, Commissioner to Spain; Hon. A. B. Roman, 
Commissioner to the United States of America. 

From the very promptness with which Louisiana 
responded to the call for troops, she left her own people 
and coast defenses unprotected. She sent thirty-six 
regiments and eight battalions to the front. 

The deeds of Jackson's "Foot Cavalry" (mainly 
Louisianians), the Washington Artillery, Gibson's 
Brigade, and the Louisiana Tigers all bear testimony 
to the energizing influence that the love of one's State 
brings to bear, which could even woo the Acadian from 
the pastoral scenes of his Attakapas home, and trans- 
form him into the dashing debonair warrior, equally 



34 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

ready to fight to the death for "la belle Louislane" or 
dance with his "bon comrades," during the lull of 
battle, to the music of the regimental band. 

A GALLANT SOLDIER AND PATRIOTIC 
STATESMAN. 

A popular soldier, and renowned son of Louisiana, 
was General Francis T. Nicholls.* He was Captain of 
a company in the Eighth Louisiana. At Winchester, 
the first important fight in the Valley of Virginia, 
Colonel Nicholls was wounded seriously, resulting in 
the loss of his left arm. On the day of its amputation, 
the division fell back. He remained in the enemy's 
lines. 

Colonel Nicholls was exchanged in September, 
1862, and was immediately promoted Colonel of the 
Fifteenth Louisiana. A few days afterward he was 
appointed Brigadier General, and assigned to the 
Second Louisiana Brigade, then near Fredericksburg. 
The brigade was composed of the First, Second, 
Tenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Louisiana Regiments. 
It was part of the force which, under General Jackson, 

* Hig father was Judge of the Court of Appeals in Ascension Parish. 
His mother was a sister of Joseph Rodman Drake, the author of the 
"Culprit Fay," one of the most charming poems ever produced by Amer- 
ican genius. He graduated from West Point in 1855, and was assigned 
to duty in the Everglades of Florida. He served in the Third United 
States Artillery at Fort Yuma, on the Colorado River, when he resigned 
and returned to Louisiana, 



LOUISIANA. 35 

turned the enemy's flank near Chancellorsville. During 

the same night in which Stonewall Jackson was 

wounded, a heavy fire was opened on the brigade. A 

shell killed General Nicholls' horse, and, passing out, 

took off the General's leg. On recovering from the 

v/ound, which incapacitated him for active service in 

front, he was assigned to the Lynchburg District. At 

the close of the war, he was in the Trans-Mississippi 

Department, with headquarters at Marshall, Texas. 

He continued to serve his native State, Louisiana, 

after the war. He was twice elected Governor. At 

the time of his death he was Judge of the Supreme 

Court of Louisiana. 

* * * 

Captain William P. Harper, of the Seventh Lou- 
isiana, afterward Sheriff of New Orleans, was acting 
Assistant Adjutant General of the brigade, while Gen- 
eral Nicholls was in command. Captain Victor St. 
Martin also was Assistant Adjutant General for a short 
time. Dr. Semmes, a brother of Mr. T. J. Semmes, 

was surgeon of the regiment. 

* * * 

Thomas J. Semmes, a legal luminary of his day, 
served from Louisiana in the Senate of the Confederate 
States of America. 



36 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

And now Edward D. White, a Confederate soldier 
from Louisiana, is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 
of the United States. 

General Zachary Taylor, from Louisiana, the 
father of General Dick Taylor, was a President of the 
United States. The daughter of Zachary Taylor was 
the first bride of Jeflferson Davis. 
* * * 

Louisiana is one of the four States which claims 
more than a general pride and interest in this only 
President of the Southern Confederacy — Kentucky^ 
his birthplace, and the scene of his educational life;, 
Mississippi, his adopted State, his home, to whose 
service he devoted his grand talent, whether in the field 
of Mexico as military commander, in the halls of Con-^ 
gress as United States Senator, or as Secretary of War 
of the United States, he was a devoted servant of Mis* 
sissippi. He died in Louisiana, and received the last 
earthly tribute from the people of New Orleans, the 
city of his love. His body reposed for a time in her 
soil, and now Richmond, Virginia, the last Capital of 
the Confederacy, possesses the mortal remains of Jef- 
ferson Davis. 

The remains of General Albert Sidney Johnston, 
killed at the Battle of Shiloh, were interred for a lon^ 



LOUISIANA. 37 

while in Louisiana. The beautiful tomb of the Army 
of Tennessee in Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, is 
surmounted by an equestrian statue of him. 

The epitaph of General Albert Sidney Johnston, 
written by Mr. John Dimitry, in this tomb, is one of 
the most exquisite specimens of English verse in our 
language. 



38 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

CHAPTER V. 
FORT SUMTER. 

ON March 3rd, 1861, President Davis appointed 
General G. T. Beauregard, of Louisiana, to 
the command of all the forces in and around 
Charleston, South Carolina. 

On arriving there, and examining the fortifications, 
he erected batteries of cannon and mortar bearing on 
the fort. 

All hopes of a peaceful pursuit of development in 
the new-born Nation were soon dispelled. The United 
States became the aggressor by sending armed vessels 
to Charleston harbor, a port of a sovereign State of 
the Confederacy. 

On April 7th, Governor Pickens received a message 
from President Lincoln, announcing that an attempt 
would be made to supply Fort Sumter with "pro- 
visions only." This "relief squadron," on its way 
already for Charleston, consisted of eight vessels, 
carrying twenty-six guns and 1,400 men. These were 
clearly preparations to coerce a sovereign State upon 
its own soil. General Beauregard was then ordered 
to demand the fort's surrender at 12 o'clock on April 
11th. Major Anderson was given permission to salute 



FOET SUMTER. 3^ 

the flag he had defended so well. He declined to sur- 
render. The bombardment then began. It is related 
that the Confederates, at every discharge from the fort, 
jumped upon the different batteries, and cheered the 
garrison for its gallant defense, but hooted the fleet, 
that lay alongside of the bar. 

At half-past one o'clock a shot struck the flagstaflf 
and brought down the ensign. Soon a white flag was 
substituted. The garrison was utterly exhausted. Fort 
Sumter surrendered. 

The victory was celebrated in Charleston with 
every demonstration of joy. In the North the news 
was received with execration and rage. 

WASHINGTON ARTILLERY. 

Louisiana's oldest and most famous military or- 
ganization is still her strong arm of defense. In 1859, 
General Persifer F. Smith was Adjutant General of the 
State of Louisiana, and was most successful in infusing 
the military spirit in the young men of New Orleans. 
It was at this time that the WJashington Battery was 
organized, with Major C. F. Hozey in command, and 
Captain James B. Walton as Lieutenant. 

In 1846, the Regiment entered the United States 
service, and was accepted in the Mexican War, serving 
with Zachary Taylor on the Rio Grande. 



40 



CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 



As early as the month of December, i860, a 
requisition was made upon Governor Moore for a 
thorough equipment to put the battery in order for 
active service in the field. On the 27th of March the 
petition was renewed, and subsequently made to the 
Secretary of War at Montgomery, in which the com- 
manding officer writes: 

"The W,ashington Artillery, numbering upon the 
rolls over three hundred men, two hundred and fifty 




for service, is divided into four companies. With a 
battery complete of six bronze six-pounder guns, six 
cannon, twelve-pounder howitzers, one eight-pound 
rifled cannon, the battalion can take the field at a few 
days' notice." 

In 1861, the Washington Artillery was increased to 



WASHINGTON ARTILLERY. 41 

a battalion of four batteries, and left for the seat of 
war in Virginia. The scope of this book prevents our 
following them through all their glorious service in 
Virginia. 

The Washington Artillery, with fine band, brilliant 
uniform, and carrying the flag presented to them by 
the ladies of New Orleans, were mustered into service 
on the 26th of May, and were marched in a body 
to Christ Church. In a sermon preached by the Rev. 
Mr. Leacock, they were reminded that they had been 
educated as gentlemen, and were urged to bring back 
their characters with their arms. The soldiers debated 
in their minds whether they would not need sterner 
qualities than society manners and pride of birth for 
the life before them. 

Dr. Leacock concluded his farewell by saying: 
^'Remember that the first convert to Christ from the 
Gentiles was a soldier. Inscribe the cross upon your 
banners, for you are fighting for liberty." 

The day of the departure of the battalion was the 
realization of a dream of Utopia this generation will 
not witness again. Business men equipped regiments, 
supplied horses, and continued the salaries of their en- 
listed employees, without a thought of reward. Citi- 
zens walked along the line of troops, oflfering their 



42 CAMP-FIRE STORIES, 

purses to men they did not know; woni,en were throng- 
ing the streets, crying and laughing by turns, scatter- 
ing rare flowers broadcast before the martial hosts. 

Rev. B. M. Palmer, the beloved Presbyterian min- 
ister, made the final address of Benediction from the 
steps of the City Hall, whose concluding words tell 
the temper of the times : 

'The alternative now before us is subjugation and 
absolute anarchy — a despotism which will put an iron 
heel upon all the human heart holds most dear. The 
mighty issue is to be submitted to the ordeal of battle, 
with the nations of the earth as spectators, and with 
the God of Heaven as umpire. With such an issue, 
we have no doubt of the part that will be assigned you 
to play, and when we hear the thunders of your can- 
nons, echoing from the mountains of Virginia, we will 
understand that you mean, in the language of Crom- 
well, to 'cut this war to the heart.' It is little to say 
you will be remembered ; and, should the frequent fate 
of the soldier befall you in a soldier's death, you shall 
find your graves in a thousand hearts, and the pen of 
history shall write your martyrdom. Soldiers! fare- 
well ! and may the Lord of Hosts be around and about 
you as a wall of fire, and shield your heads in the day 
of battle." 



WASHINGTON ARTILLERY. 43 

The Fifth Company, Washington Artillery, was 
organized by Captain W. I. Hodgson. It joined the 
Army of Tennessee, responding to General Beaure- 
gard's call for ninety-day troops. It was mustered into 
the Confederate service by Lieutenant F. C. Zacharie. 
The company participated, with honor and glory, in 
the Battle/ of Shiloh. Captain C. H. Slocomb was the 
commander until the Surrender. 

The Fifth Company fired the last shot at Spanish 
Fort, one of the very last of the war, and was paroled 
at Meridian. Captain Slocomb led the Fifth back to 
New Orleans in perfect discipline, disbanding it in feel- 
ing words of tribute, to its valor and fidelity. 

In 1862, Colonel Walton had been promoted to 
Chief of Artillery over Longstreet's Corps. He recom- 
mended Captain B. F. Eshleman to General Robert E. 
Lee in 1864, and the gallant Captain was made Colonel 
of the Washington Artillery. The command was in 
the last engagement in Virginia, at Appomattox Court- 
house, the 9th of April, 1865. 

Colonel John B. Richardson was in charge of the 
section of guns that fired the last charges at Appo- 
mattox. When negotiations were on to capitulate the 
army, he refused to surrender his battery, and buried 
the guns. On this dramatic occasion there figured a 



44 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

brave Louisianian, Lieutenant W. J. Behan, who had 
the honor of placing one of the last guns in position. 

A battery of the Fifth New York Artillery came 
into position immediately in front of the Confederate 
line, which at that time was very much reduced in 
number. A charge was made on this battery by 
Colonel Bradly Johnson's Maryland Cavalry, which 
succeeded in caputring two pieces of this artillery, with 
caisons, horses and men. Lieutenant Behan had lost 
his guns on the night before, and, having participated 
in this charge with the Maryland Cavalry, the captured 
artillery was turned over to him for immediate use. 
With a few of his comrades to assist, the gun was soon 
manned. Just as they were about to open fire, an 
officer of General Lee's staff rode up and ordered 
operations to cease, as General Lee's Army had sur- 
rendered. 

A few minutes more of time at this crisis would 
have enabled us to record that Louisiana fired the last 
gun of the war in Virginia. 



CAMPAIGN IN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 45 

CHAPTER VI. 
CAMPAIGN IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



GENERAL LEONIDAS POLK. 

THE issues of the early engagements of the Con- 
federate forces, while not so thrilling as the 
titanic struggles toward the close of the war, 
are of great importance to the student, because they 
give the key to all the successes of the Federal army, 
leading to the fall of Vicksburg, our chief fortress of 
the Valley. 

Could the strong Confederate following in Ken- 
tucky and Missouri have controlled the Legislatures of 
these neutral States, the result of the great strife would 
have been different. 

Governor Magoffin, of Kentucky, was a Seces- 
sionist, and when President Lincoln called for troops 
from that State, the issue was drawn. The State 
Guard, numbering 15,000 men fully armed, was com- 
manded by its Inspector-General, Simon Bolivar 
Buckner. Humphrey Marshall began drilling recruits. 
Thousands of the best blood and sinew of the Blue 
Grass State went out and offered their swords, their 



46 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

fortunes and lives to the new Confederacy. Among 
them' were John C. Breckenridge, who had been Vice- 
President of the United States ; General Bolivar Buck- 
ner, Basil Duke, and General John H. Morgan, the 
mDSt gallant, daring and captivating cavalier that 
America has produced. He was endowed with perfect, 
manly beauty of face and form. He dazed his enemies 
into submission by the very admiration of his audacity. 

On the 3rd of September, 1861, General Leonidas 
Polk, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Louisiana, 
marched on Kentucky soil and took strong position, 
commencing war in this part of the world. 

John Fiske, a Northern chronicler, speaks inter- 
estingly of our Louisiana General: 

"This very able commander was one of the 
picturesque figures of that time. A nephew of Presi- 
dent Polk, he had been educated at West Point, but 
soon left the army and turned his attention to theology. 
He had become a clergyman in the Episcopal Church, 
and now, for twenty years, had been Bishop of Lou- 
isiana. His martial spirit reviving at the breaking out 
of hostilities, he exchanged his surplice for the uniform 
of a Major-General, and was at once placed in com- 
mand of the forces gathering on the eastern bank of 
the Mississippi. 



GENERAL LE0NIDA8 POLK. 47 

There was a curious flavor of mediaevalism in the 
appearance of this Bishop at the head of an army in 
the middle of the nineteenth century. The latest in- 
stance of a fighting divine, before the Right Rev. Dr. 
Polk, would seem to have been the Bishop of Derry, 
who was slain in the Battle of the Boyne, in 1690. 

"A characteristic touch of ecclesiasticism, appeared 
in his first general order, which declared that, 'the in- 
vasion of the South, by the Federal armies, had 
brought with it a contempt for constitutional liberty, 
and the withering influences of the infidelity of New 
England and of Germany combined.' 

"With sound military instinct, Polk saw the im- 
portance of the town of Cairo, situated at the juncture 
of the Ohio River with the Mississippi, and, advancing 
toward the goal, he fortified himgelf at Columbus, on 
a bold bluff completely commanding the Mississippi 
River, about twenty miles below Cairo. At the same 
time, General Zollicoffer entered Kentucky by way of 
Cumberland Gap." 

Destiny now brought to the service of the United 
States Government a taciturn and apparently common- 
place man — Ulysses S. Grant. He was the eldest son 
of a leather dealer of Scotch extraction. He was a 
graduate of West Point, and had served in the Mexican 



48 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

War. In the humble rank of a Lieutenant, he had 
attracted the attention of his staff officer, Robert E 
Lee. After attaining the rank of Captain, he gave up 
his commission and engaged in different trades. The 
opening of hostilities in 1861 found him in Galena, 
Illinois, earning a bare living at the tanner's trade. He 
drilled a company at Galena, and then applied for 
a Captain's commission. No notice was taken of it 
by the War Department at Washington. He applied 
to General McClellan, with no better result. Return- 
ing to Illinois, he gained the attention of the Governor 
of that State, who had placed him in command of a 
regiment. 

Trained West Point men who had seen service were 
rapidly promoted; so Grant soon was made a Briga- 
dier-General. This is the man we have checkmating 
General Leonidas Polk, and who was to bring disaster 
to Louisiana; for the day that the Confederates occu- 
pied Columbus, General Grant made his headquarters 
at Cairo. 

General Polk's position at Columbus blockaded the 
Mississippi River up to that point. By next seizing 
upon Paducah he would control the Ohio and com- 
mand the mouths of the Tennessee and the Cumber- 
land Rivers, which were the very arteries of the Con- 
federacy. Battle was now unavoidable. 



GENERAL LEONIDAS POLK. 49 

^ While Fremont was advancing against General 
Stirling Price, Grant was to make demonstrations on 
the banks of the Mississippi. The first sally made 
by Grant was to dislodge General Pillow, who, with 
2,500 men, occupied a small garrison below Colum- 
bus. Success followed the Federals for awhile. Soon 
General Pillow rallied his troops, and took a position 
between the Union men and their boats, so as to cut 
off retreat. General Polk himself, with fresh troops, 
arrived in time to assault the Federals' flank, and re- 
pulse them as they were nearing their boats. General 
Grant here narrowly escaped death or capture. It is 
related, as he sat his horse covered with a large cloak, 
disguising his rank. General Polk saw him, and ex- 
claimed : 

"There is a Yankee, my boys, if you want to try 
your aim." 

But the aim was not true. Horse and rider reached 
the boats before the last unmooring, and this man of 
destiny escaped, to strike the South her fatal blow. 



50 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 



CHAPTER VII. 

WHO MADE THE PLANS THAT SAVED 
THE UNION? 

A VETERAN of the Sixth Mississippi, Captain 
J. W. Smith, was a member of the Garrison 
at Columbus, under command of General 
Polk. He states that we had 30,000 men and a splen- 
did line of breastworks; it would have taken 100,000 
men many months to have captured it below. We held 
Island No. 10 and Fort Pillow. By the move of the 
Federals up the Tennessee and the Cumberland, all of 
these strong forts had to be abandoned. Colonel 
William Preston Johnston writes, in his biography of 
his father. General Albert Sidney Johnston: 

"There has ever been much discussion as to who 
originated the movement up the Tennessee River. 
Well, Grant made it, and it made Grant. It was 
obvious enough, to the leaders of both sides." 

This was no doubt the great strategic movement 
of the war, as the Confederates expected the attack to 
come by way of the Mississippi River. 



THE PLANS THAT SAVED THE UNION. 51 

ANNA ELLA CARROLL, OF MARYLAND, 

Fifty years ago there appeared before Congress a 
woman seeking recompense for services to the Gov- 
ernment, Anna Ella Carroll, a Southerner who did not 
heed the cry of her country, and was unmindful of its 
traditions. 

The story, familiar through the press,* tells us that 
Miss Carroll was born in Maryland, and early in life 
repudiated slavery. When the war came she freed her 
slaves, and gave her time to writing what was con- 
sidered very able pamphlets to the cause of the Union. 
So forceful were these that she was regularly em- 
ployed by the War Department to put before the 
country, in writing, the views of the Government on 
military and other leading questions. Such was her 
influence with the Administration that she came to be 
practically a m^ember of Lincoln's Cabinet. Even as 
early as Buchanan's term her friends claim that she 
held Maryland to the Union by what she said and 
wrote. 

But it is as a war strategist that she figures most 
conspicuously. "In those wonderful days, when the 
South stood like a slender David barring the onward 
path of the Northern Goliath," Assistant Secretary of 
War Scott proposed to Mr. Lincoln that Miss Carroll, 

* Godey. 



52 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

who had already given them such valuable hints, be 
sent to the West to examine the topography of the 
Mississippi Valley, and suggest, if possible, some plan 
by which the Federal troops might force an entrance 
into the heart of the Confederacy. 

The plan already proposed by the military men was 
the descent of the Alississippi River, but to Miss Car- 
roll's mind this was not likely to be so effective a 
course as an attack elsewhere. She laid on Mr. Scott's 
table the plans and maps for a descent by the way of 
the Tennessee, with the capture of the forts along the 
course, and the seizure of the Memphis and Charleston 
Railroad, which was the key of the complete fastnesses. 

This, all the world knows, was the plan adopted and 
executed, and the success whereof made possible the 
Union triumph at Appomattox. 

Thus do we find that the ultimate success of the 
North was due to a Southern woman, and yet her 
name is an unknown quantity on the pages of history, 
while the men who carried out her plans were crowned 
with chaplets of fame, while she remained in obscurity. 
Many contestants rose to claim the honor which should 
have been given to her. 

She saw Grant, Lincoln, Halleck and others credited 
with that which was hers, and found no means to 



THE PLANS THAT SA VED THE UNION. 53 

recover her appropriated glory. It was said the Presi- 
dent did not divulge her name at first, because he feared 
the army would put no confidence in the scheme if it 
were known that a woman originated it. He well knew 
that the utmost skill and courage were necessary to 
the successful accomplishment. Unquestionably, there 
was much in this view of the matter. 

The name of Miss Carroll should have been blown 
through the country with a silver trumpet. Had Lin- 
coln lived, this might have been. But the years went 
by and she remained unrecompensed, both as to money 
and reputation. Many times since, her friends tried 
to win for her just recognition, but always without 
success. 

During various sessions of Congress, notably the 
Fortieth and Forty-fourth, bills were presented. Among 
those vouching for the genuineness of her claims were 
Secretary Stanton and Assistant Secretary Scott; Ben 
Wade, Vice-President; Henry Wilson, and others. 

Some years since, she died in obscurity and poverty, 
because an ungrateful section had not the honesty to 
render unto her that which was hers. 



54: CAMP-FIRE STORIES, 

CHAPTER VIII. 

FARRAGUT AND HIS FLEET. 

ii^T^ HE Mississippi," declared President Lincoln, 
I ''is the backbone of the Rebellion. It is 
* the key to the whole situation," and New 
Orleans was the lock which the Federals determined 
to possess. The place was of greatest importance for 
strategic purposes, as well as a source of supply to 
the Confederacy. It was the largest city of the South, 
contained more machine shops, more skilled workmen, 
more factories and food, more boats and seamen, than 
any city of the Confederacy. 

Louisiana was in touch with the vast domain of 
Texas, which was the open sesame to Mexico. The 
State of Louisiana, with its magical fertility of soil and 
the unlimited variety of its production, would have 
kept the whole army in the field supplied indefinitely. 
In fact, Louisiana was the most valuable asset of the 
Confederacy, and this the astute Lincoln knew. 

The Confederate Government, from the first, 
labored under the insurmountable disadvantage of an 
insufficient navy. She had no shipyards. That at 
Norfolk was lost early in the action. 



FARRAGUT AND HIS FLEET. 



55 



With the genius of their Admirals, Semmes and 
Buchanan, they showed the gallantry and daring of all 
the Confederate officers. Had the Confederacy realized 
in the beginning, that secession would be resisted by 
force of arms, there undoubtedly would have been 
more preparations for naval warfare. 

TO CAPTURE NEW ORLEANS. 

^ The United States Government sent a fleet of war- 
ships of 150 guns, fitted out and accompanied by a 
strong squadron of mortar boats. A land force of 
15,000 men were placed under the command of Gen- 
eral Butler. The Admiral of the Union fleet was David 
Glasgow Farragut, a native of Tennessee. 

According to Northern historians themselves, the 
most uniformly effective military genius of the United 
States Government in the conflict was possessed by 
Southern men in the service. President Lincoln, of 
Kentucky; General George H. Thomas, of Virginia, 
and Admiral Farragut, of Tennessee, twice married 
in Virginia, and passed his boyhood in New Orleans, 
where he has relatives. 

Farragut so yielded to his instinctive Southern feel- 
ing that, in the beginning, he expressed an idea of re- 
maining with the South, if the division of Governments 



56 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

could have been effected in peace; but he would not 
take up arms against the nation which had bestowed 
upon him all his honors. This declaration made it 
uncomfortable for him to longer remain in Norfolk ; he 
removed to the North. 

The Naval Department at Washing-ton always 
doubted his loyalty, and he sailed under stringent 
orders. 

He stated that he had entered the navy through a 
''port hole" at nine years of age, having been adopted 
by Commjodore Porter. At twelve years, he had been 
put in charge of a prize ship, navigating her fifteen 
hundred miles into the harbor of Valparaiso. It is 
remarked that it was fortunate for the City of New 
Orleans that the capture was first made by Farragut, 
instead of Butler, who afterwards occupied the city, 
and whose administration was so severe and disgraceful. 

Farragut's fleet was the last of the wooden vessels. 
He had six sloops, sixteen gunboats, eight other ships, 
and twenty-one mortar boats. 

The Mississippi River is the greatest waterway in 
the world. It is the main artery of a system veined by 
16,000 miles of practically navigable rivers, bayous and 
creeks; it drains no less than twenty States of the 
Union; in its course it flows from the Rocky, the 



TO CAPTURE NEW ORLEANS. 57 

Alleghanies; on the other, the Cumberland, the Ozark 
and the Missouri ranges into a single stream. This 
great river divides the East from the West of the 
United States, the North from, the South. It does not 
broaden toward the approach to the sea, but narrows 
to a width of a half mile. 

It took Farragut three weeks to pass his boats 
through Southwest Pass, with its deposits of mud 
which formed a natural obstruction. Captain Eads 
had not then accomplished the great work at the jetties, 
which has made a navigable channel for the largest 
men-of-war or merchantmen. 

New Orleans now has a port open to the commerce 
of the world, and she is the logical point for the tide 
of trade and travel which must come through the 
Panama Canal. It will be but a just reparation of fate 
that this Valley of the Mississippi, which was made to 
suffer all the outrages of war and devastation, should 
now reap the blessings of peace and prosperity. 

THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS 

lies in a crescent-shaped bend 110 miles from the 
mouth of the Mississippi. For protection from attack by 
sea, the Confederates had strengthened and equipped 
two old Government fortresses at Plaquemine Bend, 



58 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

about ninety miles below the city. The coast of the 
winding river at that point is nearly East and West. 
On the left, or north bank, stood Fort St. Philip. On 
the right bank, some 800 yards down stream, was 
Fort Jackson. The latter was a casemented work 
built in the form of a star, armed with seventy-five 
guns. Fort St. Philip was openwork, strong brick 
walls, covered with sod, mounted fifty-three guns. The 
greater number of guns were only 24-pounders. 

PASSING THE FORTS. 

Forts St. Philip and Jackson were mounted and 
armed, for the most part, with guns of obsolete pattern. 
Farragut himself reported that the forts had been 
stripped of their armament and poorly equipped for 
defense. Moreover, the defense had been weakened 
by the withdrawal of Hollin's gunboats, for service at 
Memphis. 

Below the forts there were great chain barriers 
stretched across the river, supported by old hulks 
anchored for that purpose. Along shore were Con- 
federate sharpshooters, who never missed an aim. 

The forts were commanded by two officers of the 
old United States Navy. They gave out the impres- 
sion that they could not be successfully attacked by 
any force on the Federal side. 



PASSING THE FORTS. 59 

If the forts had been equipped with full comple- 
ment of modern artillery, they could have easily de- 
stroyed the wooden ships. 

General J. R. Duncan commanded Fort Jackson, 
with a force of 1,500. Fort St. Philip was commanded 
by Colonel Higgins, with a smaller force. The bom- 
bardment began on the 18th of April, 1862. For six 
days and nights tne mortar schooners threw their ter- 
rible missiles, each a mine in itself. It is said that six 
thousand of these shells were thrown, weighing ap- 
proximately eight hundred and fifty tons. They killed 
and wounded only fifty men, including the picket 
guard. Dr. Rossiter Johnson has calculated they 
killed or wounded about one man to every sixteen tons 
of iron hurled into the forts. 

The Confederates, in response to the mortars, sank 
one schooner and disabled one of the steamers. The 
brave defenders, under this rain of fire and shell, busied 
themselves by day and night to devise methods of de- 
stroying the enemy's fleet. They sent down the river 
innumerable fire rafts. It required all the skill and 
foresight of Farragut and his crew to ward them off. 

After six days of hard work, Farragut gave up the 
bombardment; he had truly "met foemen worthy of 
his steel." 



60 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

BATTLE IN THE RIVER. 

Farragut decided at last to make a run past the 
forts and engage in battle with the Confederate gun- 
boats on the other side in the river. It was a bold at- 
tempt. It is likely that the doubts of the Government 
at Washington, of his loyalty, added vim to his daring 
spirit. He opened up a quick-fire on Fort Jackson, 
and kept them engaged while a boat was sent up 
stream to cut the chain barricade across the river. This 
was wisdom. At 3:30 in the morning of April 24th 
the fighting force of the fleet advanced and engaged the 
brave Confederates in one of the most wonderful naval 
fights in the annals of any country. 

The cannonading on the forts covered the advance 
of the Federal fleet in the darkness. This clever ruse 
was discovered by the garrison, which opened quick 
fire and sunk one of the boats, the "Varuna." The 
darkness made it easy for many of the boats to get 
past without much trouble. The 'Pensacola," of the 
Federal fleet, lost thirty-seven men in passing. After 
six days' storm of shot and shell, the brave men in the 
forts ceased firing. 



TESTIMONY OF THE PILOT OF THE 
"LOUISIANA." 

General Duncan was in command of Fort St. 
Philip, and Taylor Squires was second in command. 
He gave the order that the Fort was not to open fire 
on Farragut until the signal came from Fort Jackson. 

The regulars who were in the United States Army 
remained in the Forts after the States seceded. Among 
them was an Irishman, who did not fancy the delay 
in action. He said, ''Bejabers, I will give them a 
signal," and fired away the first gun into Farragut's 
fleet. 

General Lovell was on one of the boats in the river 
fleet. Fearing capture, he begged to be put ashore. 
He evacuated the city with his troops, leaving the 
Mayor in charge, who floated the flag of Louisiana 
over the City Hall. 

The State Navy comprised a motley lot of tow- 
boats — steamboats, tugs and what-not, under the com- 
mand of Governor Moore. Among these was the 
''Louisiana." Her force had a thrilling experience, 
which is recited in the words of her acting volunteer 
pilot. 



62 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

THE CONFEDERATE IRONCLAD ''LOUISIANA" 

IN 1862. 

"The Crescent Heavy Artillery was organized at 
New Orleans, Louisiana, during the Winter of 1861, 
and mustered into service at the beginning of the year 
1862. 

"The officers were: Captain H. T. Hutton, and 
Lieutenants Dart, William Hervey and Thomas H. 
Handy. 

"This company volunteered to serve as gunners on 
board the 'Louisiana' on or about the 20th day of 
April of the year 1862, and, pursuant to that oflfer of 
service, left New Orleans on board the 'Louisiana' at 
about the same date. The 'Louisiana' being then in- 
complete, was without propelling power, and was, 
therefore, towed by the river steamer *W. Burton' 
down to Forts Jackson and St. Philip. Because of her 
incompleteness and inability, she could serve only as 
a floating battery, and was anchored in the river at a 
point about one-half mile above the Forts. 

"It is my recollection that about three o'clock of 
the morning of April 26, 1862, Commodore Farragut, 
commanding the Federal fleet, commenced his ascent 
of the river. His purpose was to run the gauntlet — to 
run by the Forts without making a fight. Thirteen of 



THE IRONCLAD ''LO UISIANA" IN 1862. 63 

his vessels negotiated this purpose and passed up the 
river by the Forts. 

"On the following morning the writer received an 
order from Commodore Mitchell, commanding the 
Confederate fleet, to appear before him and his staff 
on the quarter-deck of the 'Louisiana.' He informed 
the writer that the 'Louisiana' was then raising steam 
for the purpose of pursuing and attacking the Federal 
vessels. He further stated to the writer that practically 
all the crew of the 'Louisiana,' with the exception of 
the officers and members of the Crescent Artillery, had 
deserted the vessel, and that among the deserters was 
the 'Louisiana's' pilot. He said that he was empowered 
to force my service as pilot, but that he preferred that 
I would volunteer my services as such, which I did. 

"In a very short time the chief engineer reported 
that portions of the machinery were missing, and 
which could not be duplicated or replaced. The 'Lou- 
isiana' was, therefore, without propelling power, and 
impotent to pursue. 

"At about the same time a Federal vessel with a 
flag of truce flying from her peak hove around the 
southern bend of the river. The naval officers recog- 
nized her as being the 'Harriet Lane,' Farragut's dis- 
patch boat. Almost simultaneously with this a white 



64 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

flag appeared, flying from the staff of Fort Jackson. 
Commodore Mitchell and other officers expressed sur- 
prise and astonishment at such a proceeding, it having 
come to pass without their being notified. I make 
special mention of this incident for the reason that his- 
tory has it that Mitchell knew of this^knew that Fort 
Jackson was to take this step before the appearance 
of the white flag. This is not true. Quite the con- 
trary; he expressed surprise, was apparently chagrined 
and provoked at such action. Moreover, he was not 
informed as to the significance of such action, inas- 
much as he immediately dispatched a detail of com- 
missioned officers to Fort Jackson to learn the mean- 
ing of that flag. They returned with the report that 
Fort Jackson had surrendered. That was the first and 
only notice that any one aboard the 'Louisiana' had of 
this procedure. 

"Commodore Mitchell and his staff decided at once 
that he would not surrender the 'Louisiana,' but would 
destroy her, which was done by setting fire to and 
putting her adrift. The gallant Mcintosh, Commander 
of the 'Louisiana,' and many sharpshooters were killed 
in the action. The commissioned officers were sent 
North to Forts Warren and Lafayette ; the privates and 
non-commissioned men to New Orleans, where they 
were paroled. 



THE IRONCLAD ''LO U 1 81 AN A" IN 1862. 65 

"The writer knows it to be a report and impression 
of some considerable circulation that some of the guns 
on board the 'Louisiana' jumped from their carriages 
at the first fire. This is not true. The guns were 
never mounted. Her armament was all on one deck, 
and my crew of gunners served two guns in the action. 
It is true that the guns were on deck. They were put 
there with the intention of mounting, but were never 
mounted at any time. 

TREACHERY CHARGED. 

"I wish to further state that a detail of three men, 
headed by a bar pilot, were dispatched south each night 
to take up positions between the Federal fleet and the 
Forts; to watch for the approach of the fleet and, upon 
discovery of same, to notify the Forts by sending up 
rockets. The rockets were never sent up. What be- 
came of the men I do not know. 

"When the Confederates were at Jackson for ex- 
change that same year they all agreed that there was 
plenty of treachery, but who the guilty ones were will 
never be known. 

"HENRY B. NOYES, 
"Sergeant, Crescent (Heavy) Artillery." 



66 CAMP-FIRE STORIES, 

While Farragut was forcing his way up the river, 
Butler, with his army of 15,000 men, was at Ship 
Island, which separates the Mississippi Sound from 
the Gulf. 

The "Mississippi," of Farragut's fleet, was rammed 
by the Confederate ironclad "Manassas," which, in 
turn, was destroyed by the "Mississippi." The river at 
this point was no more than a half mile wide, so the 
fighting was done at very close range. The memory 
of such valor, such noble courage and dauntless spirit 
will never fade, while Southern youth drink from the 
fountain of Southern story. 

After the destruction of the Confederate fleet, the 
capitulation of New Orleans was a certainty. So large 
a number of men capable of bearing arms had left for 
the seat of war, that General Lovell had not enough 
to defend the city. He had left to join General G. T. 
Beauregard, who, with General Albert Sidney John- 
ston, had taken stand at Corinth, Mississippi, after the 
fearful battle at Shiloh. 

The whole populace of the city saw the advance of 
the Federals up the river, with feelings of rage and 
desperation. Vast quantities of supplies were destroyed, 
to prevent them giving aid to the invaders. Fifteen 
thousand bales of cotton, fifteen cotton ships in the 



THE IRONCLAD '"LOUISIANA" IN 1862. 67 

river, and a powerful ram, not yet finished, as well 
as the dry docks, were burned. Hogsheads of molasses 
were burst open and let flow in the streets of the city. 
It was said no one enjoyed these "sweet conditions" 
but the little picaninnies, who fairly floated in the 
gutters and were swamped in syrup. 

George Gary Eggleston, in his recent "History of 
the Gonfederate War," treats this sad epoch of New 
O'rleans life very disinterestedly: 

The fighting was done at the very closest of quar- 
ters, that the Northern and Southern Americans who 
contested that fight met each other on that terrible 
morning of April 24, 1862. The men who fought there 
in the river, on the one side or upon the other, are 
mostly dead now; only a few of them survive in sol- 
diers' homes or sailors' snug harbors. Surely, we can 
do no better in this new century than pay all possible 
honor to the valor with which, on the one side and 
upon the other, they fought for their respective causes 
on that soft spring morning in the early sixties. They 
were heroes all, and right heroically did they acquit 
themselves in the brutal and bloody work they were 
set to do. 

The net result of the contest was the destruction of 
the Confederate fleet. With that out of the way, Far- 



68 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

ragut pushed on to New Orleans, and, with guns out 
for action, demanded the city's surrender. 

Only one issue was possible, of course. The city 
was at Farragut's mercy. He could easily destroy it 
should it resist. It only remained for him to hoist the 
National flag over it and to send General Butler's land 
force to occupy and possess the chief city of the South, 
which he did on the first of May. 

Having thus completely achieved that "success'* 
which the civilians of the Navy Department had "re- 
quired" of him, Farragut was ambitious to accomplish 
more. He proposed further operations of like character 
against other Confederate ports from which commerce 
was being carried on in spite of the blockade. It was 
quite obvious that no blockade could stop this com- 
merce on which the South so largely depended for its 
supplies. The only way in which the shutting in of the 
Confederacy could be made effective was to capture the 
defensive works of every Confederate port. 



FLAG REMOVED FROM CITY HALL. 69 



CHAPTER IX. 

NEW ORLEANS LIFE UNDER FEDERAL 
REGIME. 



CONFEDERATE FLAGS REMOVED FROM 
PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

"The excitement of the populace was intense when 
they found that the Confederate flags, which had waved 
over the Customi House, the Mint, and the City Hall 
for several months were ordered to be removed. The 
city had not surrendered, and the people had still the 
right to fly their own flag. 

"A force of one hundred marines and a body of 
soldiers, with two brass howitzers, were sent ashore by 
the United States squadron then in our port, hauled 
down the Confederate flags from the Custom House 
and Mint, and hoisted the flags of the United States. 
One of the officials hauled down the flag from the 
City Hall, and came down with it under his arm. The 
incensed multitude, kept at bay by the military, looked 
daggers, and received him with a groan. It was heap- 
ing insult upon injury, to see these beautiful flags, 
which had been presented to the city by loving hands. 



70 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

which all had cherished and prized so highly, now dese- 
crated and in possession of those who would likely 
send them North as trophies. 

THE STATE FLAG REMOVED FROM THE 
CITY HALL. 

The State flag of Louisiana floated over the City 
Hall. On Farragut's landing at the wharf of New 
Orleans, he immediately sent Captain Bailey to de- 
mand the surrender of the city and the lowering of 
the State flag. Mayor Monroe said that the city was 
at their mercy — to take possession. "We yield," he 
said, "to physical force alone, but we maintain our 
allegiance to the Government of the Confederate 
States." 

The principal comfort of the people at this time 
was Pierre Soule, the great orator and statesman. By 
his courage and eloquence, he controlled the people and 
prevented an open revolt against the invaders. 

When the Federals came to haul down the flag of 
Louisiana, Mayor Monroe descended into the street and 
assumed a position before the howitzer pointing down 
St. Charles Street. He stood with folded arms, in 
majestic silence, looking straight into the eyes of the 
gunners, who stood ready for action. The crowd stood 
in sullen stillness. When the guns were removed, the 



FLAG REMOVED FROM CITY HALL. 71 

Mayor turned and mounted the steps of the City Hall 

and the people broke into loud acclaim. 
* * * 

"Four men, among whom were William B. Mum- 
ford and Adolph Harper, more excitable, perhaps, than 
others, and impelled by thoughts of their degradation, 
determined to take down one, at least, of the United 
States ensigns. 

"Mounting the roof of the Mint, Adolph Harper 
hauled down the flag and departed. There was wild 
commotion. Mumford, being of the company, was 
arrested, tried by Butler's Court of Military Commis- 
sion, convicted upon circumstantial evidence, or per- 
haps no evidence at all, condemned to death, and Gen- 
eral Butler ordered the execution. Governor Moore, 
speaking of this act, remarked: The noble heroism 
of the patriot, Mumford, places his name high on the 
list of our martyred sons.' 

"Some of our most eamest and influential citizens 
used most patriotic appeals to General Butler to spare 
the prisoner's life, but he had denounced him, and his 
fate was sealed. The most conclusive and affecting 
arguments were treated with contempt. 

"The question of right was waived. His compas- 
sion and generosity were appealed to, but obstinacy 



72 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

and vindictiveness governed him. He had despotic 
power given him, that he might strike terror into the 
Southern heart, and he must begin at once! 

"For Mumford's family, there was no redress; no 
respite from suffering. In a short time the poor man 
was executed, leaving an estimable wife and three 
small children to be supported by charity. 

''Some charitable ladies took them in charge, and 
did all in their power to assist them in their great 

tribulation." 

* * * 

Butler's rule in the city, where the white population 
at that time consisted chiefly of women and children, 
was harsh, and even cruel — so harsh and so brutal in 
its attitude toward women as to offend sentiment both 
North and South, and in Europe. 

He issued one order which could not have come 
from the headquarters of any man of soldierly instincts 
or gentle associations. By way of resenting the attitude 
and conduct of women toward a conquering soldiery^ 
he put forth a decree in these words : 

"General Orders No. 28. 

"Headquarters, Dept. of the Gulf, 
"New Orleans, May 15, 1862. 
"As the officers and soldiers of the United States 
have been subject to repeated insults from the women 



FEDERAL REGIME IN NEW ORLEANS. 73 

(calling themselves ladies) of New Orleans in return 
for the most scrupulous non-interference and courtesy 
on our part, it is ordered tliat hereafter when any 
female shall by word, gesture or movement, insult or 
show contempt for any officer or soldier of the United 
States, she shall be regarded and held liable to be treated 
as a woman of the town plying her avocation. 

"By order of Major-General Butler. 

''GEORGE C. STRONG, 

"Assistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff." 

It needs no argument and no exposition to show 
that in issuing this order Benjamin F. Butler deliber- 
ately gave license and authority to the most brutal im> 
pulses of the most degraded men under his command — 
authorizing them to judge for them3elves when they 
should choose to think themselves insulted "by word, 
gesture, or movement," and upon every such occasion, 
without further inquiry, and upon their own initiative, 
to treat every woman who had occasion to venture into 
the streets as "a woman of the town plying her avoca- 
tion." 

With the cynicism that had equipped him for prac- 
tice in the criminal courts of Boston, Butler afterwards 
explained his order by saying that the only right way 
to treat "a woman of the town plying her avocation,'^ 



74 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

is to pass her by unnoticed. But he perfectly knew 
that that was not what his order meant to his soldiery, 
or what he meant it to mean." 

The only protection the citizens of New Orleans 
had in their extremity were the foreign consulates and 
their ships in the harbor. 

The London 'Times" of that period says the 
proclamation of Butler realizes all that was ever told 
of the tyranny by victor over the vanquished, and the 
state of slavery endured by the negroes of New Ot- 
leans cannot be more absolute, than that now suffered 
by the whites of that city. 

In the House of Lords, on the 13th of June, Lord 
Carnovan called attention to General Butler's procla- 
mation. He condemned it in severe terms as without 
precedent in the annals of war. Other members con- 
demned it as repugnant to the feelings of the nine- 
teenth century. 

A wail of anguish went up when this order was 
issued. All others seemed endurable, but this was 
humiliation. The women of the city were virtually 
prisoners, for wrong motives could be attributed to 
the most innocent movement. 

Before the arrival of Butler there had been free 
markets, to which all contributed— butchers, bakers. 



FEDERAL REGIME IN NEW ORLEANS, 75 

grocers and planters. Mr. Thomas Murray was in 
charge. Food was furnished without money and with- 
out price to all whose protectors had gone to war. 

When Butler took possession of the city, the free- 
dom was so restricted that great suffering arose among 
the poor. He levied a tax upon the people, raising a 
great sum of money, which his report says was 
"judiciously expended." 

Thus continued the free market system on a dif- 
ferent plan, by taxation of the property-holder. 

The rigor of Butler's rule in New Orleans was in 
some other respects salutary. He wantonly imprisoned 
many citizens — men and women indiiferently — with- 
out warrant or just cause ; but apart from that he ruled 
the city to its advantage. In mortal dread of yellow 
fever, he cleaned New Orleans as it had never been 
cleaned before, and throughout a hot summer he kept 
the city healthier than it had ever been in all its history. 

A valiant woman, Marion Southwood, has vividly 
depicted in a little volume which she cleverly called 
"Beauty and Booty,"* some of the exciting and trying 
scenes in New Orleans at this time. 

She says: "I have been waiting for some one to 
write a book which might be handed down to future 

* The watchword of Sir Edward Packingham, in the Battle of New 
Orleans, 8th of January, 1815. 



76 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

generations and kept as a record of the dire events 
during our season of affliction in New Orleans, while 
we were blockaded and while General Butler was 
Commander-in-Chief of the Department of the Gulf, 
and his successor. The hearts of our people were too 
deeply bowed down, crushed, to undertake the task, 
or perhaps most persons would draw a veil over our 
misfortunes. Not so, me." 

And we of this generation, let us pass it on. 



78 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

CHAPTER X. 
"BEAUTY AND BOOTY." 

The zealous Presidentf of the Louisiana State 
Museum affords us an opportunity to give a glimpse 
of the life of New Orleans of that day, by these ex- 
tracts from "Beauty and Booty": 

"There was a great stir and intense excitement at 
one time during General Banks' administration. A 
number of 'Rebels' were to leave for the 'Confederacy.* 
Their friends, amounting to some twenty thousand per- 
sons, women and children principally, wended their 
way down to the levee to see them off, and to take 
their last farewell. 

"Such a quantity of women frightened the offkials ; 
they were exasperated at their waving of handkerchiefs, 
their loud calling to their friends and their going on to 
vessels in the vicinity. 



IT. p. Thompson. 



BATTLE OF THE HANDKERCHIEFS, 79 

"Orders were given to 'stand back,' but no heed 
was given ; the bayonets were pointed at the ladies, but 
they were not to be scared. A lady ran across to get 
a nearer view; an officer seized her by the arm, but she 
escaped, leaving a scarf in his possession. At last the 
military received orders to do its duty. The aflfair was 
called the 'Pocket Handkerchief War,' and has been put 
in verse which is quite comical. Its caption is : 

"THE GREATEST VICTORY OF THE WAR, 

'LA BATAILLE DES MOiUCHOIRS,' 

NEW ORLEANS, 1863." 

"Of all the battles, modern or old. 
By poet sung or historians told ; 
Of all the routs that ever were seen 
From the days of Saladin to Marshal Turenne ; 
Of all the victories later yet won. 
From Waterloo's field to that of Bull Run. 
All, all, ntust hide their fading light. 
In the radiant glow of the handkerchief fight ; 
And a paean of joy must thrill the land 
When they hear of the deeds of Banks' band. 



80 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

"I was on the levee where the tide 

Of 'Father Mississippi' flows; 
Our gallant lads, their country's pride, 

Won this great vict'ry o'er her foes. 
Four hundred Rebels were to leave 

That morning for Secessia shades, 
Down there came (you'd scarce believe) 

A troop of children, wives and maids 
To wave farewells, to bid God-speed, 

To shed for them the parting tear. 
To waft them kisses as the meed 

Of praise to soldiers' hearts most dear. 

They came in hundreds — thousands lined 

The streets, the roofs, the shipping, too. 
Their ribbons dancing in the wind, 

Their bright eyes flashing love's adieu. 
Twas then to danger we awoke, 

But nobly faced the unarmed throng. 
And beat them back with hearty stroke, 

Till reinforcements came along. 
We waited long, our aching sight 

Was strained in eager, anxious gaze ; 
At last we saw the bayonets bright 

Flash in the sunlight's welcome blaze. 



BATTLE OF THE HANDKERCHIEFS. 81 

The cannon's dull and heavy roll 
Fell greeting on our gladdened ear, 
Then fired each eye, then glowed each soul, 

For well we knew the strife was near. 
"Charge!" rang the cry, and on we dashed 

Upon our female foes. 
As seas, in stormy fury lashed, 

Whene'er the tempest blows. 
Like chafT their parasols went down, 

And as our gallants rushed, 
And many a bonnet, robe and gown 

Was torn to shreds or crushed. 
Though well we plied the bayonet, 

Still some our efforts braved. 
Defiant both of blow and threat. 

Their handkerchiefs still waved. 
Thick grew the fight, loud rolled the din, 

When 'Charge' ! rang out again, 
And then the cannon thundered in. 

And scoured o'er the plain. 
Down 'neath the unpitying iron heels 

Of horses, children sank. 
While through the crowd the cannon wheels 

Mowed roads on either flank. 
One startled shriek, one hollow groan, 

One headlong rush, and then 



82 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

Huzza ! the field' was all our own, 

For we were Banks' men. 
That night, released from all our toils, 

Our dangers past and gone; 
We gladly gathered up the spoils 

Our chivalry had won ! 
Five hundred kerchiefs we had snatched 

From Rebel ladies' hands, 
Ten parasols, two shoes (not matched), 

Some ribbons, belts and bands. 
And other things that I forgot ; 

But then you'll find them all 
As trophies in that hallowed spot — > 

The cradle— Faneuil Hall! 

"And 'long on Massachusetts' shore, 

And on Green Mountains' side. 
Or where Long Island's breakers roar, 

And by the Hudson's tide. 
In times to comie, when lamps are lit, 

And fires brightly blaze, 
. While round the knees of, heroes sit 

The young of happier days, 
Who listen to their storied deeds. 

To them sublimely grand — 



WOMEN PATRIOTS. 8a 

Then glory shall award its meed 

Of praise to Banks' band, 
And fame proclaim, that they alone 

(In triumph's loudest note) 
May wear henceforth, for valor shown, 

A woman's petticoat." 

* * * 

Major W. H. Tunnard, in his history of the Third 
Louisiana Infantry, which camped at Metairie Race 
Course while being organized in 1861, speaks in his 
book of the returned exchange prisoners : 

"On Sunday, July 5, 1863, eleven hundred troops 
belonging to the department arrived at Shreveport from 
New Orleans, in exchange for Federal prisoners re- 
cently sent below. They arrived filled with admiration 
and enthusiasm, for the ladies of the Crescent City. 
Unconquerable in spirit, enthusiastic worshippers at the 
shrine of the Confederate cause, undismayed by the 
presence of implacable foes, these fair patriots, with 
untiring zeal and energy, ministered to the wants and 
necessities of every Confederate soldier who reached 
New Orleans during the war. fame can wear no 
brighter chaplet; history contains no fairer page; 
memory no more beautiful impression than was fur- 
nished by the devotion and patriotism of Southern^ 



84 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

women during the recent fierce, internicine struggle. 
To thera should be erected a monument more durable 
than brass, more pure and polished than the finest 
Parian marble. 

'They will live ever unforgotten in the hearts of 
the South's brave sons." 

The women of New Orleans, as elsewhere in the 
South, were devoted to the cause to their hearts' core ; 
there was no sacrifice too great for them to make, no 
irial could daunt their spirit of rebellion. As an ex- 
emplification of this, is the story of Miss Pichot, a 
Creole belle of fortune, an independent and daring 
character. Walking down Canal Street one day, which 
was picketed with soldiers, she jerked from her pocket 
a handkerchief which, flaunting in the action, disclosed 
a Confederate flag embroidered in the corner. A sol- 
dier stepped forward to place her under arrest, saying 
she was insolent to the authorities in displaying Rebel 
colors. 

With her cheeks flushing in anger, and her eyes 
flashing defiance, she exclaimed : "And is this the way 
you capture your flags — from women!" 

Then, putting the little embroidered ensign to her 
mouth, she hastily bit it oflf and, after swallowing it, 
handed the handkerchief to the soldier. She was taken 



^YOMEN PATRIOTS, 85 

before an officer, who put her on parole till trial. She 
reported to the officer daily, accom,panied by a different 
escort each day. The Colonel remarked upon that. 
She said: "Yes, there is not a gentleman left in New 
Orleans who will not be glad to escort me here to 
answer for this charge." The trial was indefinitely 
postponed. 

There was a skillful modiste in New Orleans, who 
employed a number of girls in making Confederate 
flags. On this being reported to General Butler he 
sent a detail to make a search of the premises. On 
their approach, this clever woman ran out a smallpox 
signal, and enjoyed the hasty flight of the searching 
party. 

As it was, the women dressed gaily, bedecked them- 
selves with flowers and promenaded each day in front 
of the partly-finished Custom House, which then con- 
tained several thousand captured Confederates sent in 
by Banks' raid on his way that spring through Western 
Louisiana, endeavoring to clear the State of Confeder- 
ate troops. 

"The population of New Orleans at the beginning 
of the war was about 170,000. The most virile and 
able-bodied of these, some 20,000, had gone into the 
service with Lee's Army and in the Army of Tennessee. 



S6 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

Many families had refugeed into Alabama and other 
Confederate sections rather than suffer the hardships 
of Federal occupancy or to take the oath of allegiance. 
Those left were principally Union sympathizers, for- 
eign-declared citizens, women, negroes, and the Federal 
troops. 

"Federal Prison No. 6 was the official name of the 
Custom House that year, and here, looking through 
the bars, were more than 2,000 young ''Rebels," who 
obtained some comfort and many flowers through the 
assiduous sympathy of the "girl I left behind me." She 
came down — up, rather — to Canal Street in great num- 
bers and, with fluttering handkerchiefs, roses and 
bright-colored dresses, made a most attractive and 
moving picture to the wan-faced soldier boys who 
crowded the windows overlooking the wide thorough- 
fare. 

The plans of this great structure, which, by the 
way, was at that tim'e the second largest building in the 
United States, the Capitol at Washington being first, 
called for a very elaborate dome. The foundations 
were laid in 1846, and consisted of cypress logs laid 
flat, with concrete and brick arches above, equalizing 
the weight and carrying on this batture front of the 



WOMAN PATRIOTS. 87 

Mississippi of sand and clay the most pretentious 
structure in size tliis side of Washington. 

Beauregard, civil engineer and lieutenant, graduate 
of West Point, when put in charge of the building in 
the 5o's, found it settling in an uneven manner, and 
reported conditions to Washington. So very much 
money already had been used that it was concluded to 
cover the unfinished walls with a temporary board roof 
and await results in the settling. 

Chains were run through and through the structure 
and locked to the opposite walls, just as has been re- 
cently done with the Cathedral, and this great un- 
finished mass of masonry was allowed to remain, the 
most conspicuous object in New Orleans, all through 
the Reconstruction era — incomplete, an admonition, 
ever looming through fog and sunshine, menacing per- 
sistently with its stem, undecorated walls — likened by 
Mark Twain in 1879 to a giant gasometer. *'If you 
don't behave, I am also a good prison," it seemed to 
say to the few belligerents still left in the captured city. 

BUTLER'S REGIME IN NEW ORLEANS. 

After relating the indignities suifered by the people 
of New Orleans during Butler's occupation, there are 
some condoning virtues which must be credited to him. 
Besides the sanitary regulations before mentioned, 



88 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

which he enforced, he was impressed by the sufferings 
of the poor and the destitution of the families wherein 
every male member had gone to the seat of war. 
Hunger and want began to conquer pride; provisions 
were unobtainable ; the situation was appalling. General 
Butler caused to be established free markets, from 
which he supplied army rations to the people. 

At the head of Canal Street, near where the Four- 
teenth of September Monument now stands, there was 
an ornamental iron building, built, it is believed, by the 
samfe parties who built the Moresque Building, which 
was destroyed by fire some years ago, in Camp Street. 
This building was intended to house the water works 
to supply water along the river front, but was never 
used for this purpose. Butler took charge of this and 
established his free market there. People of all classes, 
rich and poor alike, availed themselves of the free 
market. 

Subsequently he commenced the building of the 
shell road, which still remains on Washington Avenue, 
connecting with Carrollton Avenue, for which the 
laborers received a living wage. 

By order of General Butler, Confederate money 
was circulated for some time after the capture of the 
city. The people had no other kind. Had it not been 



90 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

for this order, they would have been without any 
means of buying anything at all. 

Another excellent measure adopted by General 
Butler was his order to open up all the warehouses 
where provisions had been stored by speculators. Some 
of these men had issued shinplasters, and he compelled 
them not only to sell the provisions at reasonable 
prices, but they had to accept the money issued by 
them at par value. 

Omnibus tickets were used in lieu of nickels or five- 
'Cent pieces, which were then called picayunes, although 
the original picayune represented 6l^ cents, or half a 
bit. There were red, blue, green and white omnibus 
tickets, the tickets taking the color of the omnibusses, 
each line having its 'busses painted a diflferent color. 
The tickets were of pasteboard, and bore the printed 
picture of an omnibus drawn by two prancing horses. 

The Federal soldiers were well paid, and liberal. 
This put money in circulation, which benefited all the 
inhabitants of the distressed city. 

After the ladies, the clergy seemed to be the next 
object of persecution by the invaders. Numbers of 
the Episcopal clergy were ordered into exile. Dr. 
Leacock, Dr. Fulton, Dr. Goodrich and Mr. Hedges, 
;all beloved of large congregations, were of this number. 

On another occasion, General Butler called Father 




'^ 



THE ST LOUIS CATHEDRAL. 



THE BATTLE OF ST PAUL'S. 91 

Mullen before him, announcing that he was accused of 
refusing to bury Federal soldiers. He replied: "That 
is a mistake, General. I will bury them all, with 
pleasure." 

Dr. Goodrich commenced his career as a city mis- 
sionary. At this time he was rector of St. Paul's 
Church. After banishment North, he returned. A 
popular song commemorates these stirring scenes. 

THE BATTLE OF ST. PAUL'S. 



Fought in New Orleans, Sunday, October 12, 1862. 



"Come, boys, listen, while I sing 

The greatest fight yet fought; 
That time the Yankees 

A real Tartar caught. 
Twas not the first Manassas, 

Won by our Beauregard, 
Nor Perryville, nor Belmont, 

Though Polk hit them hard. 
Nor was it famous Shiloh, 

Where Sidney Johnston fell. 
It was fought on Sunday morning 

Within the church's walls, 
And shall be known in history 

As the Battle of St. Paul's. 



CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

The hateful Strong commanded 

For Butler the abhorred, 
And the Reverend Mr. Goodrich 

Bore the banner of the Lord. 
The bell had ceased its tolling, 

The services nearly done. 
The Psalms and lessons over. 

The Lord's Prayer just begun; 
As the priest and people said, 

"Hallowed be Thy Name," 
A voice in tones of thunder 

His order did proclaim: 
'In the name of General Butler, 

I order forevermore 
That this assembly scatter, 

And the sexton close the door.* 

Up rose the congregation. 

We men were all away. 
And our wives and little children 

Alone remained to pray. 
Some cried : "We knew that Butler 

On babes and women warr'd. 
But we did not think to find him 

In the temple of the Lord." 



THE BATTLE OF ST PAUL'S. 93 

Some pressed around the pastor, 

Some on the villain gazed, 
Who against the Lord's anointed 

His dastard arm had raised. 
While a stout old lady shouted : 

''Do, some one, put him out!" 
"Don't touch him*" cried another, 

"He is worthy of his ruler. 
For he fights with women braver 

Than he fought at Ponchatoula." 

But when the storm raged fiercest. 

And hearts were all aflame, 
Like oil on troubled waters 

The voice of blessing came. 
The priest, with hands uplifted, 

Bade his people go in peace. 
And called down heavenly blessing 

Upon that tossing crowd, 
While the men their teeth were clinching 

And the women sobbing loud. 
And then, with mien undaunted, 

He passed along the aisle, 
The gallant Yankee hero 

Behind him all the while. 



94 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

''You'd better bring a gunboat, 

For that's your winning card." 
Said a haughty little beauty, 

As the strong man called a guard, 
I guess his light artillery 

'Gainst Christ Church he will range, 
When his base of operations 

Next Sunday he will "change." 
'Twas thus the tyrant Butler, 

Mid women's sobs and tears. 
Seized a priest before the altar 

He had served for twenty years. 

We know in darkest ages, 

A church was holy ground, 
Where from the hands of justice, 

A refuge might be found. 
And from the meanest soldier. 

To the highest in the land. 
None dared to touch the fugitive 

Who should within it stand. 
'Twas left to beastly Butler 

To violate its walls, 
And to be known in future 

As the Victor of St. Paul's 



; THE BATTLE OF ST. PAUL'S. 95 

He has called our wives she-adders, 

And he shall feel their sting, 

For the voice of outraged woman 

Through every land shall ring." 
* * * 

The church in which Rev. Mr. Hedges officiated 
was, after his banishment, converted into a school 
house for young contrabands. It caught fire "accident- 
ally" one night. It is not recorded that the neighbors 
mourned. 

Dr. Markham, a noted Presbyterian pastor of New 
Orleans, served through the war as Chaplain of the 
Army of Tennessee. On one occasion he was holding 
services, when bullets began falling around. He said: 
"We will postpone these exercises to a time when the 
enemy has not its eye on us." 

Once in battle a dying man called for a priest. He 
had his prayer-book in his bosom. Dr. Markham took 
it and read from it the prayers for the dying. 

Father Hubert, a Jesuit priest of New Orleans, was 
the devoted Chaplain of the Army of Northern Vir- 
ginia. 

Father Hubert went out with the First Louisiana, 
under Colonel Blanchard, who was subsequently made 
Brigadier-General. This beloved priest lived many 



96 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

years after the close of the war, and died full of honors 
at the College of the Jesuit Order at Springhill, 
Mobile, Ala. 

The clergymen of New Orleans, for the most part, 
were conspicuous for their encouragement to our 
troops leaving for the front. 

BUTLER PROHIBITS PRAYERS FOR MR. DAVIS. 

During Butler's occupation of New Orleans, there 
was a very zealous priest, the pastor of St. Patrick's 
Catholic Church, Father Mullen, who offered prayers 
always in his church for Jefferson Davis and the Con- 
federate Government. General Butler had ordered, 
under pain of arrest, that the practice should cease. A 
guard was sent to the church on the next Sunday, and 
the Reverend Father notified the congregation of the 
order. At the appointed hour, he said : "We will bow 
our heads in silence for ten minutes." 

The guard reported to General Butler that not a 
word about the Confederate Government was spoken. 

BUTLER RETURNS TO NEW ENGLAND. 

Ben Butler was being wined and dined in New 
England on his return, and was making a tour of 
Massachusetts towns, telling of his wonderful ex- 
ploits — ^he had been relieved in December, 1862 — and 



BUTLER RETURNS TO NEW ENGLAND. 97 

^ith the Napoleonic idea that to the victor belonged 
the spoils he had sent many and varied cargoes of mer- 
chandise and art ahead to his home, overlooking noth- 
ing, from spoons to statuary. It is a fact that the statue 
of George Washington, by Powers, was taken by him 
from the Capitol grounds at Baton Rouge, and he later 
acknowledged the spoons in his "Own Book." 

THE ADVENT OF GENERAL BANKS. 

Major General Banks, who was now in charge of 
the Gulf Department, had gone with an army down 
through the Teche country in the early spring, and the 
City of New Orleans at that time, but for its plucky, 
vivacious and never-conquered women, would have, 
indeed, been a dreary waste, all grown in grass and 
weeds." 

A lady at this time writes : 

"Glad to have a change. We received General 
Banks as kindly as any invader could be received. He 
was a gentleman— dignified and respectful to all. No 
guard was necessary to protect him. 

General Banks tried his utmost to revive the 
drooping spirits of the inhabitants of the city. Public 
places of amusement were opened, concerts given, 
public and private balls, soirees and dinner parties; but 



98 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

all to no purpose. The iron had entered too deeply 
into the Southern soul to be expelled by ought that any 
human being could devise. Time alone could heal the 
wounded heart. 

All efforts at gaiety seemed a mockery of woe, 
The Northern element with which the city was infested 
enjoyed itself beyond measure. Mrs. Banks was quite 
a bright, particular star in it. 

We heard of all the excitement— the feasting and 
extravagances — a good deal of the shoddy about it. 
The sutlers' wives, with their diamonds and satins, the 
ladies dressed in the flag, etc., and the entertainments 
given in palatial mansions, which had been confiscated, 
and their owners reduced to beggary ! 

The dark brown stone front dwelling standing at 
the corner of Prytania and Fourth Streets, the mansion 
of Pierre Soule, Esq., in Esplanade, and many others, 
if they could speak, could tell tales which, perhaps, 
would not be so pleasant for some persons to listen to 
at the present time. The rooms were filled, but nobody 
was there. 

At last the old-established Mardi Gras day arrived, 
but, alas! its pleasures had all departed. Here, as in 
France, it had from time immemorial been kept as a 
day of amusement and jollity; but under the clouds 
which hung over us few felt inclined to indulge. 



THE ADVEJSfT OF GENERAL BANKS. 99 

In a daily paper of March, 1863, was a touching 
appeal written by a young Southern lady : 

'In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the 
day of adversity, consider. God also set one over 
against the other, to the end that man should find noth- 
ing after him. 

Tour country is desolate, your cities are burned 
with fire, your land, strangers devour it in your pres- 
ence, and it is desolate as overthrown by strangers. 

'Rise up, ye women, that are at ease. . . . 
Pause, gentle maiden, ere you whirl down the path of 
pleasure, and drop a sympathetic tear for the older men 
and women of your land— they who have laid their 
victims on the altar and sacrificed their sons for your 
protection. 

Dance not over these victims, but on the day that 
precedes the season of fasting and prayer, let no sounds 
of revelry be heard.' " 



100 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

CHAPTER XI. 
MEW ORLEANS NEWSPAPER VOLUNTEERS. 

The Sixth Louisiana Volunteers were organized at 
Camp Moore. They numbered a large contingent of 
newspaper men of New Orleans. 

On June 11th, the regiment started for the seat 
of war in Virginia. On arriving at Manassas, it was 
immediately sent to the front. It occupied the ad- 
vanced posts under General Ewell, until the approach 
of the enemy, when it fell back on Bull Run line. 

Colonel I. J. Seymour was in command of the 
Sixth Louisiana.* 

Colonel Seymour, a New Orleans journalist, was 
one of the most popular men Louisiana sent to the 
war. He had been a fighter in the Indian and Mexican 
Wars. At the call to arms, he was editor of the "New 
Orleans Bulletin," with which Lewis Graham was also 
associated. 

Colonel Seymour, at Manassas, was in charge of 
the rear guard of Johnson's retreat to Richmond, and 
was with Jackson in his brilliant campaigns. He fought 

* At the departure of the regiment, Dr. McKelvey wag surgeon. 
During the first and second years of the war. Lieutenant Lewis Graham 
was Adjutant, until the death of Colonel Seymour. 



NEWSPAPER VOLUNTEERS. 101 

the First Louisiana Brigade for forty-eight hours at 
Richmond. At Gaines' Mills he was struck by two 
minne balls and killed. 

HAY'S BRIGADE. 

No grander contingent of men enlisted for the 
Confederacy than those of Hay's Brigade, composed 
of the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Louisiana and 
Wheat's Battalion. General Walker (afterward killed) 
was the first commander. The appointment of Gen- 
eral Dick Taylor made it a wonderful fighting ma- 
chine in Virginia. At the time of the Seven Days' 
Fight around Richmond, General Taylor was trans- 
ferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department in the 
Summer of 1862. 

Colonel Seymour was commander of the brigade 
in this prolonged engagerr^ent, and was killled while 
making a charge, at the head of his troops, before the 
end of the third day. At his side was his Adjutant, 
Lewis Graham, who went out with him from New 
Orleans. Adjutant Graham bore the body of Colonel 
Seymour from the field into Richmond. 

FEDERAL OPPRESSION. 
A curious circumstance attending Colonel Sey- 
mour's death, illustrating the animosity of the in- 
vaders occupying New Orleans, is shown in the arrest, 



102 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

and sentence to Fort Jackson, of the acting editors of 
the "Bulletin" for publishing an obituary notice of 
Colonel Seymour, wherein he was said to have ''sol- 
diered and died from a sense of duty." 

His son, Major William J. Seymour, afterwards 
became Chief of Staff of the First Louisiana Brigade. 

On the death of Colonel Seymour, the command 
devolved upon Colonel Strong, who met death at 
Sharpsburg. Colonel Monnahan was the next com- 
mander. He was also killed at the head of his troops. 
On the night of the 18th of July the regiment was in 
reserve, and was not called into action. 

The movement of Ewell's command, as contem- 
plated by General Beauregard, was not expected, in 
consequence of the disappearance of the courier bear- 
ing the order. 

NEWSPAPER PATRIOTISM. 

The bugle-call to arms sounded through every 
newspaper office in the City of New Orleans. It met 
with patriotic response from journalist to journeyman. 
Many did not return to test whether "the pen be 
mightier than the sword." 

A sad fate was that of Alfred Scanlon.* While 
Company F, "Orleans Rebels," was out on picket 

* F'o reman of the "Picayune" office. 



NEWSPAPER PATRIOTISM. 103 

duty, Lieutenant Scanlon went out to make the rounds 
on the skirmish lines. He lost his bearings, and wan- 
dered into the woods, and was finally hailed and chal- 
lenged by a sentry. Discipline in those days was very 
severe. His response to the "Who's there?" of the 
sentry was not heard, whereupon the sentinel (Hays), 
of Scanlon's own company, fired. Hearing the groans, 
he proceeded to find his victim, and, bending over him, 
recognized the face of the gallant officer from his own 
command, whose soldierly bearing and amiable man- 
ners had won the love and esteem of his comrades. 

The sentinel was still standing over him, silent and 
rigid, when the Sergeant, alarmed by the shot, brought 
up the picket line. The surgeon's skill and unremitting 
care were of no avail. His body was tenderly borne to 
the little church-yard at Lee's Mills, where it now lies 
buried, awaiting the last call. 

BEAUREGARD APPEALS FOR BELLS. 

General Beauregard sent a very touching appeal to 
New Orleans for a contribution of plantation bells. 
Why the bells ? The supply of tin was deficient, while 
copper was abundant. Bells contain so much tin that 
2,400 weight of bell metal, mixed with the proper 
quantity of copper, will suffice for a field battery of 



104 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

six pieces. His desire was to provide light artillery for 
the public defense. Church belfries, school-houses, 
plantations, all made their tribute. 

The first thing that Butler seized upon was this 
precious metal, which was sent to Boston as a trophy 
of his "hard-earned" victory. This collection was sold 
at auction. Such trophies naturally brought forth 
lively bidding from relic-hunters and all classes of 
people. 

The bells generally bore the trade-mark of North- 
ern and Western cities, but among the number were 
several Catholic church bells, cast in France, one, with 
the inscription, "Fait par Jean Bagin, 1785," over a 
cross; another, cast at Nantes, France, 1786; others, 
cast in 1775, 1776 and 1783. A very elaborately deco- 
rated one was from the First Presbyterian Church of 
Shreveport, La. 

Quoted herewith is the beautiful poem by Paul 
Hayne, inspired by the sacrifice of the bells : 

"BEAUREGARD'S APPEAL." 

"Yea! though the need is bitter, 
Take down those sacred bells! 
Whose music spoke of our hallowed joys 
And passionate farewells. 



BEAUREGARD'S APPEAL. 105 

But ere ye fall dismantled, 

Ring out, deep bells! once more; 
And pour on the waves of the passing wind 

The symphonies of yore. 

"Let the latest born be welcomed 

By pealings glad and long; 
Let the latest dead, in the churchyard bed, 

Be laid with solemn song. 

''And the bell above them throbbing. 

Should sound in mournful tone. 
As if in the grief for a human death. 

They prophesied their own. 

"Then crush the struggling sorrow; 

Feed high the furnace fires ! 
That shall mould into deep-mouthed guns of . 
bronze 

The bells from a hundred spires. 

"A cause like ours is holy. 

And useth holy things. 
And over the storm of a righteous strife. 
May shine the angels' wings. 

"Where'er our duty leads us, 

The grace of God is there. 
And the lurid shrine of war may hold 

The Eucharist of prayer." 



106 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

CHAPTER XII. 
ORLEANS GUARDS. 



SHILOH TO CORINTH. 

NO more devoted band of men defended the Con- 
federacy than the Battalion of Orleans Guards, 
which answered Beauregard's ninety-day call, 
with an enlistment of 41 1 men. Major Quey rouse com- 
manded. He received a wound at Shiloh, from which 
he suffered longer than the term of enlistment. 

Some incidents of the service of these gallant vol- 
unteers, flower of New Orleans' manhood, may assist 
to a comprehension of the glory of their deeds. 

From the Journal of the Orleans Guards we leam 
that on "April 4, 1862, they left Monte Rey on the 
right; halted on a hill half a mile further. During 
the halt, the battle-flag of General Hardie's Division 
was paraded in front of the battalion, so that it could 
be recognized on the battlefield. The battalion re- 
sumed its marching order, the Crescent Regiment to 
the left, the Eighteenth Louisiana to the right. Met a 
cavalry officer exhibiting General Polk's battle-flag for 
recognition before going into battle. 



SHILOH TO CORINTH. 107 

"April 5th. Heavy rain. Resumed marching, here 
and there, over dead horses and pools of blood. Toward 
2 p. m., our light baggage was abandoned along the 
road, and our muskets loaded. At 3 o'clock General 
Bragg passed the battalion and was received with 
cheers. At 4 o'clock, camped in the woods near the 




Tennessee River. About 8 a. m., passed through the 
abandoned camp of the Sixth Iowa; found there an 
abundant supply of delicacies for ten regiments. The 
Crescent here diverged in its line of march from, the 
Orleans and the Eighteenth Louisiana. A little further 
on it was assailed by a brisk fire from, a Kentucky and 



108 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

Tennessee regiment. These troops, at the sight of the 
blue uniforms brought from New Orleans, mistook the 
battalion for the enemfy. Two of our men were killed 
through this error. They were now awaiting our at- 
tack, having already repulsed the Sixteenth Louisiana. 
The cry of 'Forward! the Eighteenth,' was now heard 
on our right. 'Follow me!' was given in the well- 
known voice of Colonel Mouton. Then the regiment 
disappeared as it charged up the hill. It had charged 
full of fire, and its ranks well dressed. When we saw 
it again it was mutilated, cut to pieces, leaving behind 
it a trail of blood, their faces gory with hideous wounds. 
At this point Colonel Queyrouse gave the order to 
charge, to the Orleans Battalion. The men moved 
forward as a machine to the top of the plateau. The 
command of fix bayonets was given, and the men 
moved forward with a hurrah, striking a double-quick 
under galling fire. The battle-flag fell from the hands 
of G; Poree, the color-bearer, who was shot dead. Be- 
fore touching the ground it was caught by Gallot, who 
was shot through the head. Then it was seized by 
Coiron, whose arm was shattered while holding it. 
The fourth standard-bearer was Percy, who was also 
wounded. The fifth time it was seized without ever 
having touched the ground, and upheld by an unknown 
private soldier. 



FATHER TURQIS. 109 

"At forty paces from the enemy we opened fire. 
This lasted for a few moments, when they were driven 
from the field. The tramp, tramp of a large body of 
men was heard. While we were expecting total de- 
struction, the division reached the flag, with white 
center ovale, which had been pointed out as Hardee's 
ensign. These troops avenged fully the losses which 
had been inflicted on the Orleans Battalion and the 
eighteenth Louisiana."* 

FATHER TURGIS. 

WITH the battalion marched Father Turgis, a 
priest who had been a soldier in his day, 
and who was still enough of a trooper to 
enjoy the incense of battle. This patriot-priest shared 
the hardships of the men, followed them into the thick- 
est of the fight, and administered the solace of religion 
to both armies. 

His time with the great Archer came at the close of 
the war. His body was followed to the tomb by the 
largest procession ever seen in New Orleans. 

He had a happy, genial nature. His goodness, united 
to buoyant spirits, made him the most popular of spir- 
itual guides to the soldiers. 

• Among- the lost were Colonel Queyrouse, Captain 
Tetrau, Lieutenant Morino and 25 per cent of our number. 
Captain Charles Roman succeeded in command. 



110 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

The colors of the battalion were now put upon the 
breast of Private Fenot. As the blue color of our uni- 
form was not in the odor of sanctity with the sharp- 
shooters, the men were ordered to turn their uniforms 
wrong side outwards, giving us the appearance of 
going to a masquerade ball. As we marched on, Beau- 
regard passed by. He was received with a prolonged 
cheer. Waving his sword, he cried : "Forward ! fellow- 
soldiers of Louisiana. One more eflfort and the day 
is ours." 

Mouton repeated the same cry and rushed into the 
fight. Colonel Mouton was wounded. He was suc- 
ceeded by Colonel Alfred Roman. At the moment of 
hesitation in our ranks, General Beauregard rushed up 
and, seizing the colors, shouted, ''Forward!" He was 
relieved by Colonel Numa Augustin, his aide. 

Both the Battalion and the Eighteenth suffered 
enormously, with a loss of about 33 per cent of the 
whole number in line. 

The standard finally passed into the hands of Major 
Ernest Puech, who planted it in the ground until the 
line was re-formed. During tne following day the 
troops fell back upon Corinth. The troops were shoe- 
less, on account of swollen feet. No food was issued 
on the retreat. 



8H1L0H TO CORINTH. Ill 

Arriving at Corinth, the dreary place seemed like 
Paradise, our tents palaces, and old friends we hugged 
as brothers." 

The Confederate Cause seemed certain of victory 
on the first day's battle at Shiloh, although it had met 
calamity in the death of General Albert Sidney John- 
ston, a brilliant strategist. It was the most critical 
moment of the war. 

During this day of desperate strife and slaughter, 
Grant had been driven back to the river. 

SHILOH. 

General Beauregard was satisfied with the success 
of the day, and the exhausted army lay down to the 
soldier's perfect rest. 

During the night Buell, with an army outnumber- 
ing what was left of Beauregard's, came up to reinforce 
Grant. There could be but one result in such resist- 
ance to overwhelming forces. After the terrible fight- 
ing, resulting in great slaughter and the capture of the 
whole of Prentiss' Division, 2,2CX) men, Beauregard 
withdrew his army to Corinth. 

The ravine, moreover, was confronted by the Fed- 
eral artillery, which, in spite of defeat, stood by its 
guns. The passage of this ravine might have meant 



112 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

victory for the Confederacy the second day of Shiloh. 
It would have driven Grant's army back into the river, 
but at such a cost of Southern blood that we must 
sympathize with General Beauregard that he quailed 
at the hazard. 

In his official reports General Beauregard says he 
was unwilling to order a movement so desperate in its 
chances, and which would have involved a slaughter 
of brave men greater than ever before recorded in 
warfare. 

This was one of the decisive battles of the war. It 
gave the Federals an advantage in the capture of Vicks- 
burg and the possession of the Mississippi Valley. The 
Federals' loss was 13,047 men; the Confederates', 
10,000. 



THE SIEGE OF PORT HUDSON. 113 



CHAPTER XIII. 

ROMANTIC INCIDENTS OF THE SIEGE OF 
PORT HUDSON. 

ON the 12th of November, 1862, supported by 
Mr. Lincoln, General Grant received from 
General Halleck, command of all the troops 
in his department, after making a thorough ar- 
rangement of campaign with General Sherman, who 
in turn quickly made a plan of action to capture Vicks- 
burg and Port Hudson. Having failed in his efforts to 
surprise the suffering army, behind the entrenchments 
at Vicksburg, by means of his canal cut through the 
river at Lake Providence, General Grant now entered 
upon more direct tactics, which was to open up the 
great river throughout its length, and thereby to sever 
the Confederacy in twain, cutting off all supplies from 
the great Southwest. Five days after the fall of Vicks- 
burg, Port Hudson surrendered. When the news was 
received by President Lincoln in Washington, he ex- 
claimed, that the Mississippi could now flow on, un- 
vexed, from its source to the sea ! 

The fact of greatest importance to the Federal Gov- 
ernment, however, was the discovery of Grant ; he was 
from henceforth the idol of the North. 



114 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

The siege of Port Hudson lasted about four weeks.. 
The brave Confederates resisted to the point of the 
limit of hunoan endurance before they would surrender 
their swords. After existing for weeks, upon a small 
allowance of cow-peas and corn ground into meal 
cooked with mule and horse flesh, Company C, Lou- 
isiana Guards, became desperate, and obtained the per- 
mission of General Gardiner, the commanding officer, 
to cut through the lines of the Federals. 

Captain Jube Turner encountered the enemy, and 
met in a spirited engagement at "Plains Store," almost 
within sight of the Confederate breastworks. But few 
of these patriots escaped; they preferred death to sur- 
render, and all were nearly annihilated. 

The engagement has been considered the hardest- 
fought battle which took place on Louisiana soil. 

There were losses of about fifty killed, and some- 
made thrilling escapes. Among these were Major Cole- 
man, who made his way to New Orleans; Henry Clay 
Robertson, and others, who were enabled to rejoiit 
their regiments and fight for the dear cause to the end. 

The terms of the surrender provided that commis- 
sioned officers should remain prisoners until the end 
of the war. This was so galling to the soul of Lieu- 
tenant F. M. Bankston, and three other high-spirited 



THE 8IEGE OF PORT HUDSON. 115 



officers of Company C, that Lieutenant F. M. Bankston 
broke his sword in front of General Gardiner's tent — a 
sword which was presented to hinii by Mrs. Jeffersorr 




Davis, and thus he would avoid the risk of having it. 
laid at the feet of his country's foes. 

These four daring young men crawled under the- 
breastworks of Port Hudson and lay in a ravine cov- 



116 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

ered with leaves by day, and traveling by the North 
star by night, until out of the Mississippi River swamps. 

Soon Nature's primeval foe— jStarvation— befell 
them, and finally dispelled all caution, until it drove 
them to call at an old plantation home, which bore 
evidences of thrift, which often bloomed in Southern 
homes, even in those desolate times. The Yankees, 
too, had observed this, and even then had the cooks 
busy over savory pots in the old kitchen ; but ever alert, 
here, too, was a Southern picket on the watch-tower, 
the daughter of the house — beautiful Nellie Gray. 

Discerning the furtive approach of the dull-gray 
figures, wearing the homespun jackets, so sadly iden- 
tified with Johnny Reb, she waved them back to 
cover — a friendly command which was instinctively 
understood. 

After the unwelcome Federal guests had been fed 
to repletion, making them contented to ride away, with 
secret admiration for such gracious hospitality, our 
young heroine then sallied forth, under friendly veil 
of darkness, carrying under her cloak a basket of good 
things, which Southern boys loved. By the light of 
the stars she guided them, by secret paths, through 
briars and brambles, until well past the Federal out- 
posts. The grateful fugitives were thus enabled to 
reach other Confederate commands. 



THE SIEGE OF POET HUDSON. 117 

It is pleasant to record that these four stalwart 
heroes fought on until the end of the war. 

If any should now be among our brave surviving 
veterans, we are sure they will rejoice to have live in 
Southern story this noble deed of sweet Nellie Gray. 

THE SIEGE OF PORT HUDSON. 

THE long campaign, and futile eflforts of General 
Grant to carry out his plans, had caused many 
at the North to lose both patience and con- 
fidence. The brilliant victories of the Confederates, 
under Beauregard, Lee and Jackson, had brought home 
to them the fact, what the dash and military genius of 
the war were, with the Confederates, although the 
North had the numbers and resources. 

Mr. Lincoln was besought to remove Grant. His 
habit of indulgence in liquor was even brought forward 
as an argument. 

Mr. Lincoln listened to these comments, and replied, 
with his accustomed humor: "I should like," said he, 
"to find out the kind of whiskey he drinks. I would 
send a barrel of it to every one of my Generals." 

It was not the deficiency of General Grant, but the 
brave, unconquerable spirit of the Confederate soldier, 
that had retarded his progress. His peculiar tactics 
of persistency in assault, along one line, as against the 



118 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

material exhaustion of the South, came at last to pro- 
duce the inevitable result. 

In December, General Banks had reached New 
Orleans, with a force to co-operate with Admiral Far- 
ragut's fleet in an effort to reduce Port Hudson. He 
first thought to go up Red River, and endeavor to 
check General Richard Taylor, who was making the 
interior of Louisiana very lively camping-grounds for 
the Federals. He met a warm reception from General 
Taylor. Northern historians have very little to say of 
this expedition. From other sources we learn that 
Captain Dowling and company were sent down to 
Sabine Pass, where one of the most wonderful feats 
of the war was performed. This small force of Con- 
federates captured more than a thousand prisoners, 
sunk' two gunboats (one turned and escaped), without 
any losses upon the part of the Confederates. 

It was on March 14th that Admiral Farragut, with 
seven stout vessels, set out to pass the batteries of Port 
Hudson. It was a sorry attempt. The Confederate 
guns sent four ships down stream disabled, and sunk 
their fine gunboat, "Mississippi." 



BATTLE OF BATO^N ROUGE, 119 

CHAPTER XIV. 
BATTLE OF BATON ROUGE. 

AFTER the capture of New Orleans, Farragut's 
fleet proceeded up the river, compelling the 
surrender of Baton Rouge, the Capital of the 
"State of Louisiana. His progress was stopped by the 
strongly-fortified city of Vicksburg, 400 miles above 
New Orleans. 

In the meantime, the gallant General Van Dorn, 
detached from General Beauregard's army, proceeded 
to Vicksburg, taking with him General John C. Breck- 
enridge's brigade. They proceeded to throw up the 
wonderful fortifications of Vicksburg. Undismayed 
by the defeats of the navy, at New Orleans and Mem- 
phis, the Confederates were building, up the Yazoo 
River, which flows into the Mississippi just above 
Vicksburg, an iron-clad ram, which they hoped would 
be another "Merrimac." This famous ram, "The 
Arkansas," was built like the "Merrimac," though 
smaller in size. If her engines had been a little more 
powerful, she would have wrought havoc to the Fed- 
eral fleet. At her first appearance, she put to flight the 
"Tyler" and the "Carondelet" of Commodore Porter's 



BATTLE OF BATON ROUGE. 121 

fleet, and sent Farragut back to New Orleans, and 
Davis up the river to Helena. 

The fiery Van Dorn now sent General Brecken- 
ridge, with 6,000 men and the ram "Arkansas," to 
recover Baton Rouge and to re-establish the State Gov- 
ernment there, and secure the mouth of Red River. 

Butler was occupying Baton Rouge, with a garrison 
of 4,000 troops, in addition to the ram "Essex" and a 
couple of gunboats. An engagement took place at 
about 1 a. m. on the 5th of August, in which the 
machinery of the redoubtable ram, "Arkansas," broke 
down. To prevent capture, her commander ran her 
ashore, landed his crew, set her ablaze, and turned her 
adrift. With a loud explosion, she sank beneath the 
waters. 

The Fourth Louisiana, Company E, under Colonel 
Henry M. Allen, afterward Governor of Louisiana, was 
actively engaged in this battle, with General Ruggles 
first in command. 

General John C. Breckenridge, with his Kentucky 
troops, had arrived. He charged up and down the 
line, while the Federals were being routed out of their 
ditches. 

Butler had turned the convicts out of the peniten- 
tiary, expecting them to unite with him, but evea 



122 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

among convicts were some Rebels. The Federals had 
a following of negroes — fugitive slaves. 

It is related that the direction of the Federals' 
flight could be traced by the blue-back spellers strewn 
along the line, which the frightened blacks had dropped 
in terror of pursuit and capture. 

The Federals left behind vast quantities of pro- 
visions and other supplies, but the wagons of the Con- 
federates were so filled with the wounded and dying 
that the hungry army had to pass them by. 

General Van Dorn did not hold Baton Rouge, but, 
undismayed, proceeded to Port Hudson, a more im- 
portant point. 

Admiral Schley, of Spanish-American War fame, 
gave utterance to the opinion, that the Confederates 
did their greatest defensive work before Port Hudson. 



CHICKASAW BAYOU. 123 

CHAPTER XV. 
CHICKASAW BAYOU. 

ON the 27th of September, 1862, the Thirty- 
first Louisiana, in Baldwin's Brigade, com- 
posed of the Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth 
and Thirty-first Regiments, were camped near the old 
City Cemetery. 

Sherman's Army had been preparing for a week 
to make an attack; the Louisianians were defending 
the line. Major Humble was killed; also C. H. Mor- 
rison and Lieutenant-Colonel Sidney GrifTin. 

The Chickasaw Bayou was low, forming lakes at 
intervals. A ravine in between the two lakes was in- 
trenched on either side by the Confederates. Sher- 
man's sharpshooters filled the woods, and commenced 
firing, which was returned with great energy, by the 
Confederates. They had to raise their arms over the 
parapet and fire at random, without sighting. The Fed- 
erals were so numerous it was hard to miss them,. 

The battle lasted four days, which was sharp-shoot- 
ing on the part of the Federals and an effort to hold 
their position on the part of the Confederates. 

On the right side of the ravine were the supplies; 



J24 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

on the left or south side, the Federals, who made their 
way through the ravine, and took shelter behind the 
earthworks. So near were they that the guns were at 
close range. The woods were filled with the main 
army, towards which the fire of the Confederates was 
directed. The Federals, under shelter of night, fell 
back to their command. 

The Thirty-first Louisiana held their position to 
the end of the engagement, which continued a heavy 
skirmishing until retirement of the Federals. 

THE REGIMENT SEPARATED. 

An incident of the engagement was the separation 
of the regiment by the ravine. Those on the south 
side exhausted their ammunition, and it became neces- 
sary to send a supply to them. It was a dangerous 
undertaking, for the accomplishment of which the 
Colonel selected W. A. Collins, of Company H, 
Thirty-first Louisiana. Corporal Collins eagerly volun- 
teered for the task, which at that time was considered 
a venture of great risk. 

To divert the attention of the enemy, the regiment 
was ordered to open up heavy fire, as he was going 
across, which relieved the situation of serious danger. 
The mission was successfully accomplished, and Cor- 



CHICKASAW BAYOU. 125 

poral Collins was promoted to a Lieutenancy the very 
next day. The heaviest losses sustained by the Fed- 
erals were in front of the fire of the Louisiana Brigade 
at Chickasaw Bayou. 

Before our earthworks, occupied by the other regi- 
ments of our brigade, was a large cotton plantation, 
across which the Federals charged on the Confederate 
lines. The Federal losses were very great. The Con- 
federates were protected behind their breastworks, 
while the Federals were in the open field. 

The following day the Federals sent a flag of truce, 
asking a cessation of hostilities, which was readily 
granted. 

To the surprise and relief of the Confederates, the 
dawn revealed that the Federals had embarked on their 
transports and had proceeded to capture Arkansas Post. 

Porter's fleet remained in the Bends above Vicks- 
burg, and kept up the shelling of Vicksburg. Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Sidney Griffin, of Union Parish, was 
killed a few days after the beginning of the Siege of 
Vicksburg. He was an able commander, and had the 
love and respect of his whole command. 

THE BATTLE OF PORT GIBSON. 

This same Louisiana Brigade was engaged in the 
Battle of Port Gibson, which General Grant opened 



126 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

on the first of May. On the second day it began the 
retreat toward Vicksburg, destroying the bridge at 
Bayou Pierre. General Bowen was in command of 
the Confederate forces.* 

They crossed the bridge at Big Black, under fire, 
and burned it behind them. 

The brigade was engaged in the battle at Champion 
Hill, then in the siege at Vicksburg. 

Another brave Louisianian who fell at Vicksburg 
was Colonel Matt Rogers, of Ouachita, who was killed 
near the same spot as Colonel Griffin. 

The men in the siege preserved their good nature 
and courage. A big pot of sassafras tea was kept 
brewing in the camp, which was free to all. As the 
supply diminished, more water was added and the pot 
kept boiling, which made a fine beverage to go with 
the field-pea bread. An occasional ration of mule meat 
rounded out the bill of fare. 

• They crossed the bridge at Big Black, under fire, and 
burned it behind them. 



BATTLE OF CHAMPION HILL. 127 

CHAPTER XVI. 
THE BATTLE OF CHAMPION HILL. 

OF great strategic importance to both armies 
was the possession of Champion Hill, inas- 
much as it opened a route to Vicksburg. 
Heroic Louisianians, under command of General Bald- 
win, were in this engagement. General John E. Bowen 
in command. Baldwin's Brigade had occupied Port 
Gibson. After a day's fighting they commenced the 
retreat toward Vicksburg, burning bridges behind them. 
General Tracy fell at Port Gibson. There were only 
a few Confederates who did the work. The enemy 
thought they were skirmishers, because they were so 
hard to hit. They crossed over the pontoon bridge at 
Big Black, and burned it under fire, joining the Con- 
federates at Champion Hill. 

The crucial period of the war between the States 
came co-ordinate with the carnage at Gettysburg and 
the suffering, endurance and final surrender at Vicks- 
burg. 

After the fall of Memphis, New Orleans and Baton 
Rouge, the Confederacy only had possession of that 
part of the Mississippi River which lies between Vicks- 



128 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

burg and Port Hudson. This position enabled us to 
blockade the river, and, the more important still, to 
keep in communication with West Louisiana, Arkansas 
and Texas, whence we drew supplies for the army in 
the field. Another important line for transportation of 
supplies was by way of Red River. To hold these 
points was vital to the Confederacy; to cut them oflf 
and open up the Mississippi River, from Cairo to the 
Gulf, was the determination of General Grant; hence 
the heroic sacrifice of our people, besieged at Vicksburg, 
and their resistance to assault, until our men fainted 
from hunger in the trenches, and the children wailed 
for bread in the homes. 

Farragut had attempted to assail it, but Vicksburg 
was high on her several hills, and impregnable from 
water attack. 

The limitations of this article prevent our touching 
upon the many strategic movements of Grant to reach 
this citadel — ^all of which were a succession of failures 
and disasters. After making a conjunction with Sher- 
man, there was another plan of operation to dislodge 
our brave Southern boys on the bluflf, which makes 
far the most thrilling history of the war. 

Finally, General Grant determined to push his 
army in between the position of General Joseph E. 



BATTLE OF CHAMPION BILL. 129 

Johnston at Jackson, and General Pemberton at Vicks- 
burg. In this territory, on the l5th of May, 1863,. 
having captured and devastated Jackson, Grant en- 
countered Pemberton at "Champion Hill," where he 
had taken up a strong position. This battle, where the 
losses on either side approximated three thousand men, 
more than the whole fatality of the Spanish-American 
War, is scarcely known, it is said, to the millions of 
youth who study American history. 

To care for the suffering wounded, and remove our 
honored dead to decent sepulture, was the heroic part 
to be borne by the Southern women of the vicinity. 
The brave soul who went over the appalling field of 
blood, with ministrations of comfort and mercy, was 
the wife of General John E. Bowen. 

In the Mexican service were two devoted comrades: 
Lieutenant Bowen and Captain Grant. Bowen was 
rich — Grant was poor. 

In the war between the States, these two friends 
came to a parting of the ways. Lieutenant Bowen: 
offered his services to the Confederacy; Captain Grant 
to the Union. Lieutenant Bowen was commissioned 
Colonel of the First Missouri Infantry. He was in the 
Western Division. For gallantry in action, he rose 
to the rank of Major-General, and was second in com- 
mand under Pemberton at Vicksburg. 



130 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

Mrs. Bowen followed her husband into every post 
of danger, and rendered such services to the cause as 
only a woman of keen wit, ardent patriotism, and un- 
flinching courage could do. It is said that hundreds 
would have perished at Champion Hill but for her 
ministrations. 

General Grant had given the wife of his former 
friend a general passport through the lines, to come 
and go at will. While her husband was at Vicksburg, 
she made stopping place at the plantation home of Mrs. 
Madison Smith, in Hinds County, Miss. A matron of 
unflinching courage, and devoted to the cause, her 
home was open at all times to the soldiers or sym- 
pathizers. It was here that Mrs. Bowen brought in 
the wounded from the field, and hundreds were nursed 
back to life. In the trunks which she so often brought 
through the lines were numerous volumnious petti- 
coats and gowns of soft cotton, which were speedily 
converted into bandages and scraped into lint, and 
indeed it was said that, for so delicate a lady, she car- 
ried about with her an immoderate supply of liquor. 
A woman who could be so nervy on the field needed 
a lot of restoratives at home. She could truthfully 
swear that the Confederate soldier's need was her 
necessity. 



THE BA TTLE OF CHAMPION HILL. 131 

Fate had in store a cruel reward for Mrs. Bowen. 
While she was on the firing line, assisting night and 
day, to assuage the tortures of our sufferers. General 
Bowen was wounded in Vicksburg from a bomb 
thrown by General Grant's troops. General Grant 
gave her escort and conveyance to meet her husband, 
and she nursed and removed him to a plantation in 
the country. He survived this attack. Finally he suc- 
cumbed, and was buried, and still lies unclaimed or 
unidentified, so far as known. 

After offering her supreme sacrifice on her coun- 
try's altar, Mrs. Bowen returned to the front. She had 
three brothers still in the army. When the Confeder- 
ates retreated before Sherman's nuarch to the sea, Mrs. 
Bowen went with them, always in the hospital or on 
the battlefield. When General Sherman occupied At- 
lanta, he learned that Mrs. Bowen was there. He 
called and urged her to accept an escort out of the 
lines, telling her that trouble was ahead, and that 
Atlanta was no place for a woman. She told him 
firmly but gentle she did not intend to leave the South 
so long as there was a Confederate soldier left to 
suffer in the field. 

She kept faith alive until the last sad surrender, 
then she returned to her home in St. Louis, where she 
lived and died in honor, on January 10, 1904. 



132 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

Mrs. Bowen was one of the founders of the Mis- 
souri Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, 
and contributed largely toward the building of the 
Home for Confederate Soldiers at Higginsville, Mo. 

May she rest in peace, valiant woman of the South I 



GRANTS CANAL. 133 



CHAPTER XVII. 



GRANT'S CANAL, LAKE PROVIDENCE, 
LOUISIANA. 



STORY OF THE FAITHFUL SLAVE. 



IN pursuance of our stories of the campaign in the 
Mississippi Valley, we find that on the 12th of 
November, 1862, General Grant received from 
General Halleck, command of all the troops in his 
department. He at once made concert of action with 
General Sherman, who quickly made a plan to capture 
Vicksburg and Port Hudson, opening up the great river 
throughout its length, and severing the Confederacy in 
twain. 

One of the plans of GIrant to reach the Confeder- 
ates intrenched on the heights of Vicksburg, was to 
detail Sherman to cut a canal across the peninsular in 
the great bend of the river east of Vicksburg. Per- 
haps all are not familiar with the topography of the 
country in this section, where the river winds for a 
hundred miles or more like a tortuous serpent, form- 
ing acute angles in the channel, setting the current now 



134 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

against one bank, then the other; forming that rich- 
section of the Mississippi Valley known as the Bends. 
General Sherman continued at work on this device 
until eariy in March, when a sudden flood in the river 
overflowed the peninsular. He was compelled to make 
a hasty retreat, to avoid the drowning of his army. 

The same flood catastrophe is ever overwhelming 
the Bends; it is a section inured to tragedy, as to pros- 
perity, and bears both with noble equanimity. 

Into this rich country, so necessary to the Con- 
federate cause, General Grant poured his army. 

About seventy-five miles above Vicksburg lies the 
northern boundary of Louisiana, a country glowing in 
the prodigal beauties of nature, owned and brought to 
the highest degree of productiveness by cultured and 
scientific planters, for the most part scions of a proud,, 
hearty and developed race of Anglo-Saxon ancestry. 
Each home was a manor surrounded by an estate of 
which any English country gentleman could be proud.. 
The lands were cultivated by armies of slaves, it is true, 
but slaves so protected by the intelligence, the con- 
science and the wisdom of their masters, that the hours 
of labor had always for its accompaniment the mellow 
chorus of the negro field chant, the predominant note 
of which was contentment. No railroads disturbed 



GRANT'S CANAL. 



135 



this kingdom unto itself, but the great river palaces 
anchored before each great plantation. A lake as 
beautiful as Como, and like unto it, encircled partly 
the little metropolis of this paradise. 




When the first pioneers from Virginia and Georgia 
stopped their caravans here, startling the herds of deer 
and flocks of game laving on the banks, they thanked 
God; but when they cast their lines and nets, and 
brought forth wonderful hauls of fish of all variety, 
they decided to there abide, and they christened the 
beautiful like, ''Providence." 



136 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

It was toward this rich region that General Grant 
next turned his efforts. The scheme was to cut an- 
other canal from the Mississippi River into Lake Provi- 
dence, carry his flotilla through the lake up to the 
mouth of the Bayou Tensas, then move his boats down 
the bayou until he reached a point of the river below 
Vicksburg. This scheme failed utterly, but he suc- 
ceeded in leaving a trail of ruin, rapine, and havoc 
along his track. 

Always after the fleshpots, the officers soon selected 
for themselves comfortable mansions. 

In this connection, I will relate a pathetic story 
involving a faithful slave. 

Six miles below Lake Providence, where, often, 
has been enacted the tragedy of the flood, was the plan- 
tation home of Colonel Warren Magruder B. — a 
stately mansion, broad acres of waving grain, shimmer- 
ing stretches of fleecy cotton, herds grazing on green 
pastures — it all seemed very good to the General and 
his cohorts. 

Accordingly, it was here he made his headquarters. 
The soldiers were given liberty to destroy what might 
seem unprotected property. The owner being beyond 
the age of service to the Confederacy, had remioved, 
with his negroes and fine horses, to his place in the 
hill country reserved for this purpose in time of floods. 



GRANT'S CANAL. 137 

The home on the banks of the Mississippi had been 
left in charge of trusted house servants. These, bribed 
with promises of fortune, and won over by flattery, 
offered little resistance to the vandalism of the soldiery. 

The family portraits and works of art were made 
targets for camp amusement; the library, elegant furni- 
ture, and all, given over to the marauders, to extract, 
if need be, the hiding-places of money or treasure. 

The Federals soon found the retreat of Colonel 
W. M. B. When he protested ignorance of any such 
hiding place, a noose was put around his neck, and he 
was subjected to indignities, as though a criminal. 

Henry Bates was the foreman and confidential 
servant of Colonel W. M. B. He had used his privilege 
as a negro to go within Federal lines. He practiced 
many artful expedients to obtain for his master, cigars, 
tobacco and such other luxuries as were unobtainable 
in the Confederate lines. He was on an expedition of 
this kind at the time of Colonel W. M. B.'s assault. 
At the critical moment, when the looters were suspend- 
ing their victim from a tree, a horseman came dashing 
through the forest, crying: "For God's sake, don't 
hang my old marster! Take me; I am the man that 
buried the money!" 

Astonishment gave them pause. The slave, going 
up to his master, removed the rope, and, putting it 



138 



CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 



around his own neck, said to the soldiers: "Easter, the 
house-woman, knows where I buried the box, and the 
General himself has old Marster's money." 

Seemingly satisfied with that, the disappointed 
marauders rode away to locate other plunder. 

Colonel W. M. B., with tears in his eyes, took the 
hand of the slave, saying : 'i thank you, Henry Bates, 
my faithful servant and white-souled friend." 

The servitor, with a cunning bom of love and 
devotion, replied: ''Don't trouble, Marster. General 
Grant just got the Confederate money, and the silver, 
we used at parties. Our family silver and our gold is 
hid away under 'ole Miss' ' tombstone in the family 
burying-ground." 

And there it was found. 




ADVEiNTURES IN CARROLL PARISH. 139 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
CARROLL PARISH, LOUISIANA. 



ADVENTURES AND ENGAGEMENTS. 

Some interesting encounters took place in Carroll 
Parish. 

Colonel Frank H. Bartlett, on the 9th of May, 
1862, received confirmation from Captain Corbin, who 
commanded the pickets at Caledonia, near the Arkan- 
sas line on Bayou Macon, just six miles from Bunch's 
Bend, that the enemy had surprised his guard and 
crossed the Macon. Rallying every available man who 
could be spared from guarding the railroad crossing 
at Delhi, and the courthouse at Floyd, parish seat of 
Carroll Parish, Colonel Bartlett marched gaily forth 
to meet the enemy. His force, combined with Cor- 
bin's, could only number eighty-five men, while the 
enemy had two regiments of cavalry, numbering about 
five hundred men. 

The Federals were ambushed, resulting in a break 
into wild confusion, leaving thirteen dead and twenty- 
six prisoners. They made their way to the Mississippi 
River, telling a wonderful story of their escape from 
overwhelming numbers of Rebels. 



140 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

Thus, skillful marksmanship and daring attack had 
convinced the enemy they had confronted a division 
of General Dick Taylor's army. 

After giving them this scare, Colonel Bartlett 
wisely assumed the offensive, making raids to the 
river, capturing prisoners, supplies and war material. 

About the first of June this little Confederate band 
was reinforced by the Thirteenth Texas Infantry, under 
the gallant Colonel Crawford, when they decided to 
make a dash into the town of Lake Providence. The 
first move was to improvise a bridge of logs at Cale- 
donia, to cross Bayou Macon, marching on, surprising 
and capturing the Federal picket at Bunch's Bend, and 
thence pushing on to Lake Providence. Every hun- 
dred yards of their route was disputed by the enemy's 
cavalry, but nothing availed against the daring Con- 
federates. 

At Baxter Bayou, where the Federals had cut 
down and set fire to the bridge, the Confederates car- 
ried it by storm, while it was ablaze, and sinking it in 
the middle below the surface of the water. At the 
Tensas the bridge was found entirely destroyed. 

To the great disappointment of the loyal inhabi- 
tants of Lake Providence, which now comprised the 
women, children and men too old for service, the Con- 



BRIARFIELD REBELS. 141 

federates had to return to the hill country, carrying 
with them their spoils, consisting of many prisoners, 
nine army wagons and thirty-six mules, besides having 
destroyed much of the enemy's property. Bartlett's 
loss was three killed and seven wounded. 

A few months later, the sub-district of North Lou- 
isiana was broken up, the final quarters being in 
Minden. 

Carroll Parish, in November, 1861, sent 691 vol- 
unteers to the field. Seventy-six of the number were 
in the Carroll Guards. 

^THE BRIARFIELD REBELS." 
A celebrated company of cavalry raised in Carroll 
Parish was 'The Briarfield Rebels." 

Enlisted in the company was Lieutenant Cicero M. 
Allen, whose courage, ingenuity and resourcefulness 
made him famous, even in those times of martial deeds 
of daring. Lieutenant Allen was with the brave Lou- 
isianians engaged in the skirmish at Newport News, 
Virginia, where the first victim of sacrifice was laid 
upon the altar of the South. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Dreux, Cicero and 
Columbus Allen, Bailey V. Vinson and McVicker par* 
ticipated in this fight, and carried the body of the 
lamented Dreux from the field. 



142 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

James B. Lingan, grandson of General McC. 
Lingan, killed in the political disturbance in Baltimore 
in 1812, was with Dreux's Battalion, and accompanied 
to New Orleans the remains of that gallant young 
officer, who was among the first to fall in Virginia's 
great campaigns. The funeral was the greatest spec- 
tacular pageant of the day. 

Allen was called "The One-Armed Scout." While 
at Briton's Lane, Tennessee, he was wounded in the 
arm and made prisoner; his horse was killed in the 
charge. Having been carried to the Federal hospital, 
where his wounds were dressed, he walked out of the 
building, and, seeing the fine gray horse which the 
surgeon had conveniently hitched while engaged with 
his patients, Allen leaped into the saddle, and under 
the shelter of darkness was soon outside of the enemy's 
lines. 

He carried the battle-flag of his regiment at Shiloh, 
until ordered by General Hindman to replace his twin 
brother. 

At Ponchatoula, where the "Briarfield Rebels" had 
been appointed to picket duty, to watch out for the 
enemy, who werQ threatening Port Hudson, Allen was 
made Lieutenant. His first affair was with the small 
tin-clad vessel, the "Lafitte," which was reconnoitering 



BRIARFIELD REBELS. 143 

around in the Amite River. With a small detachment 
he annoyed the "Lafitte" so much that, in her efforts 
to get away, she ran upon a snag and was blown up. 
It having been discovered she had a fine gun aboard, 
Allen managed to get possession of a schooner, and 
one of the men dived and secured the gun by a rope 
and slip-knot. 

Allen was now left with a detail of two men to 
get the schooner and gun where it could be shipped to 
Port Hudson. While passing through Lake Maurepas 
he encountered a yawl filled with nine Federals. Allen 
quickly ran his schooner into a bayou near-by and, 
jumping ashore, prepared an ambush. As the Fed- 
erals came up, confident of victory, Allen commanded 
all to fire, killing the commander of their squad. The 
remainder jumped in the water and swam to the 
woods. 

HEROIC SUBTERFUGE. 

Allen and his two men kept up the attack. After 
running through the marsh for nearly a mile, Allen, 
fearing to disclose his real numbers, ordered, "Cease 
firing!" then, calling upon several imaginary com- 
panions to "Halt!" he boldly marched forward and 
received the surrender of the whole party. Among the 
number were two officers. Singly he divested the 



144 



CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 



prisoners of their arms and ammunition, and, moving 
them some distance from the stacked arms, he ordered 
his two men up and marched the prisoners on board 
of the schooner. 

General Frank Gardiner, who was then in com- 
mand at Port Gibson, sent an orderly, complimenting 
Lieutenant Allen for his skill and courage. 



.^J^ 




While his company was doing duty at Poncha- 
toula, Allen, with eight men, crossed Lake Maurepas 
in a yawl. Leaving the boat in one of the numerous 
bayous, he waded with his men through a marsh 
waist-deep. He crossed the railroad to Lake Pont- 
chartrain, and there discovered two Federal schooners 
lying at anchor. He found a little dug-out, boarded 



BRIARFIELD REBELS. 145 

Ihe schooners, overpowered the crew, and made oflf 
with his prize to Madisonville. Later, from the com- 
missary store, there were heard the "sounds of revelry 
by night." 

The "Briarfields" did some fine service during the 
Siege of Port Hudson, and were particularly active 
in capturing a Federal wagon train. The advance 
guard in the venture was commanded by Columbus 
Allen, the twin brother of Cicero. Although a private, 
he had been mistaken for his brother by Colonel 
Powers. The brother availed himself of this oppor- 
tunity for a good practical joke. Lieutenant Allen 
came up in time to pitch into the left flank of the Fed- 
erals and do some excellent fighting. The skirmish 
resulted in the capture of one hundred wagons, four 
mules and forty-odd prisoners. Twenty of the enemy 
were killed and wounded. 

To prevent any further "mix-ups" between the 
two brothers, whose identity it was so hard to dis- 
tinguish, Columbus Allen was transferred to another 
division. 



146 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

ADVENTURES OF THE ONE-ARMED SCOUT. 

At daylight one morning Allen received an order 
from the Colonel to capture some deserters. Allen 
set out, and after marching about forty miles in one 
day he reached the Mississippi, to find that the desert- 
ers had taken refuge upon the boat "Rattler." 

An old lady, passing by in her carriage, told him 
the crew of the "Rattler" was in the habit of landing 
in Rodney, making boasts that "they could whip out 
buttermilk soldiers with cornstalks." Allen thereupon 
camped in the woods near a cemetery, and a watch 
was stationed. The sentry's "All well!" as the boat 
bell struck the hour, was heard by the picket con~ 
cealed behind an old tombstone. 

Sunday morning a considerable stir was seen 
aboard the gunboat. Soon thereafter three boats were 
seen to shoot out from her side, filled with gaily- 
dressed officers and marines. Allen led his few fol- 
lowers into town, in a gallop. The cracking of pistols 
soon told that the fight had begun. 

The Federals were true soldiers. Getting their men 
into the church, they barricaded the doors. Allen and 
his men followed quickly, pistols in hand. A marine 
met them at the door, and they fired simultaneously. 
A bullet went through Allen's hat, but the leaden mis- 



FIGHT IN THE CHURCH. U7 

sile from his pistol entered the marine's heart, who 
fell dead in the aisle of the church. 

Meantime the Confederates entered by another 
door, whose bristling carbines influenced a quick sur- 
render. The prisoners taken were fifteen marines, the 
Captain and First Lieutenant. 

As this affair happened while church services were 
being held, the confusion can well be conjectured. 

Allen withdrew in safety with his prisoners, not- 
withstanding the batteries opened fire upon the town. 

It was not surprising that so daring a scout was 
captured while riding in the Federal lines. He was 
taken on board the steamer "Iberville." Surrounded 
by guards, one morning he leaped from the deck of 
the steamer, and, despite having the use of only one 
arm, he gained the shore and reached his camp. 

On the hurried retreat from Collinsville, Tennes- 
see, by the Confederates, "The Briarfields" were- 
ordered to the rear, to hold the Federals in check 
until the army could effect a fording of the Coldwater 
River. Here, with a few men under his command, 
Allen made obstinate resistance, until the Federals dis- 
covered the smallness of the force. Then they charged 
in large numbers, actually riding over Allen's body, 
as he had been thrown from his horse. He was taken-. 



148 CAMP-FIRE STORIES, 

prisoner and placed in a car en route for the old Cap- 
itol prison. The night was dark, and the train going 
at the rate of thirty miles an hour. When near the 
City of Baltimore he snatched the overcoat of the 
.guard and leaped from the car. 

There were m;my ardent Confederate women in 
Maryland. It was his good fortune to meet some of 
these, who helped him: to cross the lines. He was 
twice captured, and as often escaped after that. When 
he reached the Confederacy he found the struggle 
■ended. 

Making his way to the trans-Mississippi, he was 
among those who made the last effort for the Con- 
federacy he loved so dearly, and for which he had 
dared so much. 

After the war he married a lady of East Carroll 
Parish and engaged in cotton planting on the Tensas 
Bayou, where he died, still in his fresh manhood. 



THE BATTLE OF MANSFIELD. 149 

CHAPTER XIX. 
THE BATTLE OF MANSFIELD. 

THE most important battle fought on Louisiana 
soil was at Mansfield, April 8, 1864. 
The Military Annals of Louisiana record 
that, in the raid up the Red River, General Banks had 
an army of 45,000 men and sixty transports. 

General Dick Taylor gave him battle at Mansfield 
with only 6,000 men. General Polignac rode by the 
side of General Dick Taylor. In discussing the great 
numbers of the enemy, General Taylor said to him: 
"I will fight Banks if he has a million men." 

THE HEROIC TWENTY-EIGHTH LOUISIANA. 

The Twenty-eighth Louisiana, then commanded by 
Colonel Walker, was very active here. The Confed- 
erates had been resting two miles north of Mansfield. 
When they were ordered to resume march, they did 
so cheerfully. At a short distance south of Mansfield 
the troops were drawn up in battle array. OVer the 
brow of the hill repeatedly appeared the cavalry of the 
enemy. The Confederates began firing, and the line 
of cavalry was broken up. 



150 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

This little skirmish produced great enthusiasm. A 
participant says that General Mouton, with his power- 
ful form raised to its full. height as he stood in his 
stirrups, hat in hand, added to it. He swept along the 
command, shouting: "Louisiana has drawn the first 
blood to-day, and the victory is ours!" 

The enemy rested in a field behind the woods. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Milton, who took out Company A 
from Bienville Parish, was ordered with skirmishers 
to charge through the field. With a handful of men 
from each regiment he dashed up the hill, in front of 
his men, urging them to follow. The whole commiand 
set out double-quick up the hill toward the Federals 
concealed in the woods. They were subjected to a 
terrific fire before they came upon the foe. 

Colonel William Walker, who commanded the 
Twenty-eighth, was mortally wounded, and expired 
at the home of a friend in Mansfield. Many deeds of 
daring and gallantry were performed. 

Major W. F. Blackman, perceiving in some sol- 
diers a tendency to waiver in the long uphill charge, 
dashed for the colors, and rode towards the Federals. 
He wheeled and cried to the men to rally to their 
colors. This they did with a rush. A captured soldier 
of the Federals afterwards said that not less than two 



THE BATTLE OF MANSFIELD. 151 

liundred shots were fired at Blackman when he was not 
fifty yards distant. 

After reaching the brow of the hill, the Twenty- 
eighth was ordered to lie down behind an intervening 
fence. It did so just in time to escape a fire of shot, 
^hell and grape. After resting awhile, it was ordered 
to charge; the fence went down with a crash. The 
regiment precipitated itself upon the Federals, who 
then fell back in confusion to the woods, where they 
re-formed. 

The Confederates were ordered to charge, but they 
became scattered in the woods and began to waiver, 
when Lieutenant (afterward Captain) Kidd of Jack- 
son Parish, seized the colors of the Twenty-eighth and 
bore them far into the field, calling to the men to 
follow. 

After capturing the batteries before them, and all of 
the horses of the dead and wounded, the pursuit be- 
came general, and before sundown there was a com- 
plete rout. 

THE DEATH OF MOUTON AND ARMANT. 

General Taylor, in his own book, gives ardent 
praise to the Creole soldiery of Louisiana. No nation 
has produced greater fighters than Mouton and Armant, 
lost to their country at Mansfield. They should be held 



152 CAMP-FIRE STORIES, 

as dear to the South as is Hampden or Sidney by the 
Binglish. 

Mrs. Dorsey, referring to these two heroes at the 
Battle of Mansfield, gives this picture: 

"General Mouton, with 2,500 men, forced passage 
of a ravine to drive the Federals from their entrench- 
ments on an opposite hill. 

'The officers fell fast. Armant, at the head of his 
Creoles, had his horse shot, while he was wounded in 
the arm. Starting to his feet after disengaging him- 
self from his dying horse, he ran by the side of his 
men, waving his sword with his unhurt hand. Again 
a shot struck him; he fell, wounded in both thighs. 
He raised himself again on his wounded arm. With 
the life-blood pouring in torrents, half reclining, he still 
waved his sword, and cheered on his Louisianians. 
They responded with a cry of vengeance. Another 
shot struck their commander in the breast; the gleam- 
ing sword fell to the ground — Armant lay dead. 

'The Eighteenth Louisiana rushed on. Polignac 
led his gallant Texans. Mouton was always in the 
front. The guns were taken, after a desperate struggle. 
The Federals broke and fled, Mouton in pursuit. He 
passed a group of Federal soldiers; they threw down 
their arms in toKen of surrender. Mouton turned, lift- 



THE BATTLE OF MANSFIELD. 163 

ing his hand to stay the firing of the Confederates upon 
this group of prisoners. As he did so, five of the pris- 
oners stooped down, picked up their guns and fired at 
the generous Confederate. In a moment five balls 
pierced the noble, magnanimous heart. Mouton 
dropped from the saddle, dead, without a word or a 
sigh. The men who witnessed this cowardly deed 
gave a yell of vengeful indignation, and before their 
officers could check them, the thirty-five Federals lay 
dead around the body of Mouton." 

The chase of the Federals was continued by this 
division; then the reserves, under Walker and Church- 
hill, took up the hunt and drove the enemy back to 
Pleasant Hill. The Confederates bivouaced that night 
by a stream of refreshing water. 

Throughout this campaign, in General Taylor's 
command, fought Prince Camille Polignac, a brave 
son of France, who bestowed upon the Confederacy 
the same kind of fidelity and assistance that his great 
countryman, Lafayette, gave our forefathers in the 
War of the Revolution. Prince Polignac died in 
France in 1913. A fitting memorial was inscribed to 
him by his grateful Louisiana comrades. 



154 CAMP-FIRE STORIES, 

OFFICERS OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH. 

Officers of the Twenty-eighth distinguished in this 
great battle were: Colonel T. W. Pool; Captain 
Brice, of Bienville Parish; Captain Hines C. Mitchel, 
of Claiborne; Lieutenant William Lewis, of Jackson 
Parish ; Captain T. W. Abner, of Winn. 

The Twenty-eighth was composed entirely of 
North Louisiana men. Its first commander was Gen- 
eral Henry Gray. 

General Mouton and Colonel Landry were killed 
at Mansfield. These noble, heroic souls reflect glory 
upon Louisiana. 

General Dick Taylor says, in part, in his address to 
his army: 

'The enemy was driven from, every position, his 
artillery captured, and his men routed. In vain were 
fresh troops brought up. Your magnificent line was 
like a resistless wave. Twenty-one pieces of artillery, 
twenty-five hundred prisoners, two hundred horses. 
For twelve miles burning wagons and stores marked 
our advance." 

TRANS-MISSISSIPPI CONFLICTS. 

The St. Mary's Battery participated in all the en- 
counters along the Teche, ending in the bloody aflfair 
at Norwood's on Bayou de Glaise. 



ST. MABrS CANNONEERS. 155 

A brilliant engagement in western Louisiana took 
place at Labadieville. There, Colonel Leopold Armant, 
with five hundred men, met a force of four thousand 
under General Weitzel, and checked for a time their 
advance. 

After Mouton's Command left the Lafourche 
country they took position at Berwick Bay. Weitzel 
followed with gunboats. Comay's Battery was at 
Camp Bisland, on the Teche, between Franklin and 
Jeanerette. The "Cotton," a large river steamer, was 
converted into a war vessel. This boat, commanded 
by Captain Fuller, co-operated with General Mouton 
in defending the Teche. 

The Federals, in April, sent a force of sixteen thou- 
sand men to dislodge General Taylor's detachment of 
three thousand Confederates at Bisland. On the 13th 
of April a desperate battle was fought, and the Fed- 
erals were repulsed. The Confederates withdrew in 
perfect order to Opelousas. 

The field artillery in the Army of Western Lou- 
isiana was very numerous and in constant activity. 
After the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, it was 
organized into a regiment, under command of Colonel 
Brent. Captain O. J. James and Captain Faries were 
promoted to Major. This organization was composed 



156 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

of batteries from Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas nad 
Louisiana. 

The St. Mary's Cannoneers, or Cornay's Battery, 
had done good service at and above the mouth of the 
river in protecting the City of New Orleans. 

After the defeat of General Banks at Mansfield, 
and his retreat from Natchitoches, General Taylor 
placed this battery on Red River, at the mouth of Cane 
River, with the purpose of blockading against the 
Federal fleet, which, on the 26th of April, 1864, at- 
tempted to pass the defenses. 

The transport, "Champion No. 3," with several 
hundred negroes, taken from the plantations along the 
Red River, under the command of Admiral Porter's 
two gunboats, engaged the battery while the "Cham- 
pion" attempted to pass. The "Champion" was struck 
in her boiler by a solid shot from a twelve-pound gun. 
She was immediately enveloped in steam and vapor. 
It was possibly the most fatal shot fired during the 
hostilities, as every soul on the "Champion" perished, 
with the exception of three. The remaining fleet de- 
clined to fight, and ran up the river. The inhumanity 
of exposing these unarmed people to disaster rests 
with the Federal commanders. In this unequal con- 
flict the Confederates fought four field pieces against 



ST, MARY'S CANNONEERS. 157 

gunboats rriiounting powerful guns. In this engage- 
ment the heroic Captain Cornay fell while directing 
his devoted men. 

The Commander-in-Chief, General E. Kirby Smith, 
had his headquarters at Shreveport, which was the 
War Capital of Louisiana. He did not wish to leave 
this territory unprotected, so failed to fully sustain 
General Dick Taylor in his pursuit of Banks and 
Porter. After the retreat of Banks, he asked to be 
relieved. He was soon promoted to the rank of Lieu- 
tenant-General and assigned to duty on the east side 
of the Mississippi. His last headquarters were at 
Meridian, Miss., where his noble troops laid down their 
arms and accepted the fiat of battle. 




SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 159 

CHAPTER XX. 

VICKSBURG. 

AFTER the occupation of New Orleans by Gen- 
eral Butler, Vicksburg became the coveted 
stronghold of the Northern forces. It was 
called the Gibraltar of the Mississippi Valley, un- 
approachable by the steep bluflf on the front, guarded 
by ''Haines Bluff" on the right, Port Hudson on the 
left, it could only be assailed in the rear. A volume 
could be filled with interesting movements of Grant's 
and Sherman's forces in their progress toward Vicks- 
burg, and of the brilliant dash of General Nathan 
Forest in cutting off his railway communication. The 
ride of the gallant Van Dorn, with some 35,000 cav- 
alry, in Grant's rear, capturing and destroying at Holly 
Springs vast stores for the use of the Union Army 
isolated without supplies. Grant beat a quick retreat. 

Meanwhile, General Sherman pursued his course 
toward Vicksburg, unaware of the predicament of 
Grant. He started from Memphis with 32,000 men 
and sixty guns, steamed down the river, and thirteen 
miles up the Yazoo, landed his troops on the low flats 
in front of the range of bluffs to the North. 



160 



CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 



In all Grant's operations to capture Vicksburg, Lou- 
isiana was largely the sufferer by the presence of the 
army of invaders. After the failure of the chimerical 
attempt at Lake Providence to make passage through 
Tensas and Baxter Bayous, his army was concentrated 
at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, about twenty miles above 




A GAME OF CHANCE. 

Vicksburg, in the midst of the grand old plantation 
homes — •fine foraging fields for a rapacious army. 

Not knowing the real strength behind the fortifica- 
tions of Vicksburg, Admiral Porter had been afraid to 
make the run past the guns. The clamor at the North 



SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 161 

for Grant's removal, on account of all of these failures, 
spurred him on to desperation. He sent ten ship-loads 
of rations, under cover of the gunboats, down the river. 

The Confederates set houses along the bluff afire, 
illuminating wierdly the scene, while the batteries 
rained heavy shot upon the fleet. Every ship was 
struck and damaged; three were disabled, but the 
majority all ''ran the gauntlet," and Grant was ready 
to leave Louisiana soil. Although we had no troops 
there to give him fight, our morasses, bayous and 
swamps gave his army a "hard road to travel," and 
offered a very effectual resistance to his reaching Vicks- 
burg. 

Military authorities have said that the Confederate 
Government made a grave error in withdrawing the 
energetic Van Dorn from command around Vicksburg, 
replacing him with General Pemberton, who seems to 
have been wanting in military acumen. 

When General Joseph E. Johnston learned of the 
loss at Champion Hill, he sent word to Pemberton to 
abandon Vicksburg and save his army. It is said that 
the whole force of the disaster dawned then upon 
General Pemberton, and threw him into consternation. 
While he was discussing plans with his Generals, Sher- 
man had gained control of the roads, so that the gar- 
rison had to await its doom — by siege and starvation. 



162 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

Fearing that General Johnston would come up 
with his division, Grant called for reinforcements, with 
the result that 70,000 men were stationed before the 
beleaguered city. To guard against the shower of shells 
by night and day, the inhabitants became cave-dwellers, 
like the early Christians of Rome in the Catacombs. 
Great subterranean passages were dug in the cliffs, for 
which high rents were paid. These were occupied, for 
the most part, by women and children. With the 
courage of all high-bred Southern matrons, they served 
their country in hospitals, and cared for the wounded 
in their caves. 

Major Franklin S. Garner,* a young Marylander, 
was shot through the mouth, and supposed to be 
mortally wounded. He fell into the arms of Colonel 
J. D. Hill, of New Orleans. He was then taken in 
charge by women of Vicksburg, and nourished back 
to life by means of a quill in the throat. This is but 
an illustration of their unfailing devotion. 

The hardships of a long siege were borne with 
Spartan spirit. Mule meat was a delicacy, for the 
favored. It was said an entree of "mule tongue, cold, 
a la bray," was for company dinner only. 

* Major Garner enlisted in Withers' Artillery, Sixth Mississippi, aa 
a Lieutenant, and was thrice promoted for gallantry on the field. At 
the surrender he held the title of Major. 



SIEGE OF VIOKSBURG. 163 

In the two assaults of the 19th and 22nd, the Union 
army lost 4,000 men, but there were legions to take 
the place of the slain. As well as they knew the mettle 
of the Confederates, they did not expect the long and 
determined resistance. 

On the Fourth of July, 1863, Grant ate dinner in 
Vicksburg, and he brought his dinner with him, for 
the noble garrison held out as long as there were 
means to sustain life. 

U. S. Grant— called "Unconditional Surrender" 

Grant— waived his title to the extent of allowing the 

garrison to march out with colors flying to stack 

arms. The prisoners were released on parole. Five 

days after hearing of the fall of Vicksburg, Port 

Hudson abandoned resistance— it seemed no longer a 

benefit to the cause. 

* * * 

With the Louisiana troops at Vicksburg was 
Colonel Fred Ogden's Battalion, the Seventh, which 
remained in active service till after the surrender. 
Colonel Ogden was then ordered to assist in organizing 
a body of cavalry for General Polk's Division. He 
was then assigned to Wirt Adan^s' Brigade, with orders 
to report to Forrest. He was with the latter com- 
mand at the close of the war. 



164 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

CHAPTER XXI. 
THIRD LOUISIANA. 

WH. TUNNARD, in his recital of the action 
of the Third Louisiana Infantry in the 
• trenches at Vicksburg, in front of 
Logan's Division, says: 

The Third Louisiana was placed near the center 
of the line on the Jackson road. Lying deep between 
the hills on the right, were the Twenty-first and 
Twenty-second Louisiana Regiments. On the left was 
the Mississippi Regiment, consisting largely of the rem- 
nants of General Hebert's Brigade. The General had 
told the men they had the key to the whole defense 
in their situation. They swore to defend it against all 
odds, though beset by a million foes. The enemy con- 
tracted their line ; their batteries opened upon every one 
of our guns and dismounted them. 

The report of a single gun within the breastworks 
was a signal for terrific bombardment from Grant's 
guns. No less than five cannoneers were killed in at- 
tempting to light the fuse of one of our guns. Nearly 
the entire line of artillery was dismounted in the dread- 
ful fire of the Twenty-second. 



THIBB LOUISIANA. 165 

General Grant sent in a flag of truce, asking per- 
mission to bury the dead. General Pemberton at first 
refused, saying the battle was not yet decided. The 
Federals then began undermining the parapets. The 
Confederates could plainly hear their voices under- 
neath them. The Confederates began hurling kegs of 
explosives, balls, rocks and every description of 
missiles, at the Federals below the embankment. On 
the 25th a flag of truce was sent in, asking for a ces- 
sation of hostilities for the purpose of burying the 
dead, and it was granted for three hours. 

"Now began a strange spectacle in this thrilling 
drama of war. Flags were displayed along both lines 
and the troops thronged the breastworks, gaily chatting 
with each other, discussing the issues of the war, dis- 
puting over losses in the fights, etc. Many of the Con- 
federates accepted invitations to visit the Federal 
quarters, where they were most hospitably enter- 
tained, and supplied with provisions of various kinds. 
There were many laughable incidents resulting from 
these visits. The foe was exultant and confident, while 
the Confederates were defiant, and equally undaunted. 
Captain Gallagher, the Commissary of the Regi- 
ment, had been enjoying the hospitality of the Fed- 
erals, partaking of their fine wines, tobacco and viands. 



166 CAMP-FIRE STORIES. 

As they separated, his Federal host remarked : "Good- 
day, Captain ; I hope we shall meet again in the Union, 
as of old." Captain Gallagher, with a peculiar expres- 
sion on his frank face, replied: 'I cannot return your 
sentiment. The only union you and I can enjoy will 
be in the Kingdom come.' 

The expiration of the appointed time found the 
men all back in their places. The stillness which suc- 
ceeded the uproar of battle seemed strange and un- 
natural. Heavy mortars of artillery of every caliber 
and small arms once more with thunder-tones awak- 
ened the slumbering echoes of the hills surrounding 
the heroic City of Vicksburg. The constant daily fight- 
ing and disturbed rest began to show its effect on the 
men. Rations began to shorten. On May 30th, for 
the first time, a mixture of ground peas and meal was 
Issued; the food was very unpalatable, but the men 
endured the hardships heroically. The men succeeded, 
by an ingenious application of the culinary art, in pre- 
paring a mixture which they called *cush-cush.' 

The Federals procured a car frame, which they 
placed on wheels, loading it with cotton bales. They 
pushed this along the Jackson road, in front of the 
breastworks held by the Third Regiment. Protected 
by this novel movable shelter, they constructed their 



TRIED LOUISIANA. 167 

works with impunity, almost certain of eventually 
reaching the entrenchments. Rifles had no effect on 
the cotton bales; there was no piece of artillery to 
batter it down. They were not a hundred yards from 
the regiment, and the men awaited eagerly for the 
hand-to-hand struggle which was to ensue. The 
movable breastworks became the source of great an- 
noyance to the regiment. Many volunteered to sally 
forth and set it afire, which would have been certain 
death to the detail. 

Lieutenant W. M. Washburn, of Company B, 
loaded a rifle and fired a ball of cotton and turpentine 
into the hated object. Another, and another, blazing 
missile was sent on the same mission of destruction, 
without apparent success. The men, save those on 
guard, sought their tents for sleep, and all the line be- 
came comparatively quiet. Suddenly the cry went up : 
The old thing is on fire!' The whole regiment was 
soon astir, and saw the smoke issuing from the dark 
mass. 

The invention of Lieutenant Washburn proved a 
success; the fire, which had smouldered in the cotton 
bales, had burst into flame. The men seized their 
rifles, and five companies were detailed to keep up a 
rapid fire to prevent the enemy extinguishing the 



168 CAMP-FIRE 8T0RIE8, 

flames. It is said the enemy never understood how its 
breastwork was given to destruction under their very 
■eyes. 

On June 11th the enemy in front of the Third 
Louisiana planted two-inch Columbiads not a hundred 
yards distant from the lines. These terrible missiles, with 
their heavy scream and tremendous explosion, some- 
what startled the boys — being an unexpected feature of 
the siege. After knocking the breastworks to pieces, 
and exhibiting their force and power, the enemy com- 
menced a systematic method of practice, so as to make 
their shells more deadly. Our troops succeeded in 
getting a mortar in position, in a ravine in the rear line 
of the fortification, and opened fire on the besiegers 
in the evening. As the shell marked its graceful curve 
In the air, and suddenly fell into the enemy's lines, the 
troops cheered most vociferously; they enjoyed the 
consternation and astonishment of the enemy. Their 
fun was soon ended, for the enemy concentrated upon 
the point from whence it came, and delivered there a 
heavy fire of shot and shell. 

The combatants were so close that a Yankee 
threw a hard-tack biscuit among the men of the regi- 
ment, having written on it, 'Starvation.' The visitor 
was immediately returned, having inscribed on it, 
''Forty days rations, and no thanks to you.' 



THIRD LOUISIANA. 169 

The Vicksburg "Whig" furnished a few items con- 
cerning the siege. It was printed on flowered wall- 
paper, and was very small and highly 'illustrated.' 

June 29th found the enemy once more under- 
mining the works of the Third Louisiana Infantry. The 
men went spiritedly to work making a counter-mine; 
the laborers were so near together that the stroke of 
the pick-axes could be distinctly heard, as well as the 
sound of voices. 

Thus the deadly struggle went on, the brave boys 
never once dreaming of despairing or giving up, al- 
though fighting over a volcano, that might at any 
moment burst forth and engulf them in general ruin. 
At 2 p. m., the enemy exploded the mine beneath the 
works occupied by the Third Louisiana. A huge m^ss 
of earth, suddenly and with terrific force, flew upward, 
and, descendnig with mighty power upon the noble 
defenders, buried them beneath its fallen fragments. 
It seemed as though hell had yawned under the de- 
voted band and vomited forth its sulphurous fire of 
smoke upon them. The regiment at this time was 
supported by the First, Fifth and Sixth Missouri. The 
scene that followed beggars description. At first, there 
was a rush to escape the huge mass of descending 
earth; then the survivors, without waiting to inquire 



170 CAMP-FIRE 8T0BIE8. 

who had fallen, hastened to the gap in the works ta 
repel the anticipated assault. The enemy, taught by 
dearly-bought experience, made no attempt to enter 
the opening. An immense number of 12-pound shells 
from the mortar-boats did fearful execution. 

"The Confederates still had ammunition left. At 
any mention of surrender, the excited question was 
asked: '\Mhy not expend our large supply of am- 
munition in firing upon the enemy, rather than have it 
pass into their hands, to swell the list of their captures?' 
The selection of the Fourth of July as the day of their 
humiliation added to the stormy temper of the be- 
sieged. 

"When the order of surrender was conveyed to the 
men, they received it with indignant rage. Many of 
the Third Louisiana broke their trusty rifles against 
the trees, and scattered the ammunition over the 
ground which they had so ardently defended against 
overwhelming odds. In many cases the battle-flags 
were torn into shreds and distributed among the troops 
in token that they were no party to the surrender. 
Their anguish was heart-breaking. The Federals who 
marched into the place had more the appearance of 
being vanquished than the unarmed Confederates, who 
gazed upon them with folded arms, in stem silence, a 



TRIED LOUISIANA, 171 

Htxzt defiance on their bronzed features, and the old 

battle-fire gleaming in their glittering eyes." 
* * * 

Amid the sad scenes of the surrender, it must be 
recorded, in testimony of the generous feeling of the 
Federal Army, that no word of exultation was uttered 
to irritate the feeling of the prisoners. On the con- 
trary, there were expressions of sympathy and 
brotherly feeling. 




FINIS. 



